A total of 14 teenagers have been arrested in Umoja, Nairobi, following the surge of juvenile gangs linked to violent crime. The arrests came after a brutal clash that left a 15-year-old boy, identified as Joshua Kubiti, dead.
The minors, aged between 12 and 19, include 10 boys and four girls. They were nabbed in a targeted crackdown by Buruburu-based detectives and later arraigned at the Makadara Law Courts.
Crackdown on Teenage Gangs in Umoja
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the teenagers had organized themselves into rival gangs with names such as Chinje, Mbogi, Bad Bunny, and Silent. These groups are linked to:
- Violent confrontations
- Phone snatching
- Theft in Umoja I, II & III, Tena, Innercore, Kayole, Kariobangi, and nearby estates
Joshua Kubiti succumbed to injuries at Radiant Hospital, Umoja, after the confrontation, which was captured in a viral social media video.
Spike in Juvenile Gang Recruitment
Investigators revealed that recruitment into these gangs often spikes during school holidays, drawing more young people into criminal activities.
The DCI, in a statement on Wednesday, said:
“A sustained crackdown against juvenile gangs and other criminal elements in Nairobi and across the country remains ongoing.”
