NAIROBI, Kenya – A recent survey by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) has painted a grim picture of the persistent threat posed by criminal gangs in Kenya, highlighting their widespread proliferation, resilience, and deep entrenchment in local communities.
The report, released on Wednesday, identifies criminal gangs as a growing challenge to national security, with far-reaching consequences for the country’s development.
The survey, which focused on 11 counties including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, Nakuru, and Kisumu, found that these gangs continue to thrive despite multiple government interventions.
In fact, the groups have shown an alarming ability to adapt, evade law enforcement, and expand their reach.
Activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, robbery, and political violence have become deeply embedded within the operations of these criminal organizations, posing a complex and persistent security threat.
“Key indicators of proliferation included frequent reports of gang-related crimes, increased violence, and growing gang influence in youth groups,” the report noted, with 82.3% of respondents confirming the proliferation of gangs in their localities.
Kisumu, Busia, and Bungoma counties recorded the highest levels of gang presence, with gang-related activities rated as highly visible by 87.6% of the survey sample.
While a slight decline in the overall number of gangs was reported, with 53.2% of respondents noting a reduction in gang numbers over the past three years, certain counties such as Bungoma, Busia, and Kisumu have seen a rise in gang activity.
Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kilifi counties had the highest concentration of gangs, with 309 groups identified, including notorious names like Gaza, Wakali Wao, and Mungiki.
The report also points to significant complicity within local communities, with 84.6% of respondents acknowledging that community members, including peers and family, contribute to the gangs’ resilience by failing to report crimes or by offering protection.
The deep-rooted community tolerance of gang activities further complicates efforts to curb their influence.
Criminal gangs, the survey revealed, have infiltrated multiple sectors, with public transport, the drug trade, and security being the most affected.
Their operations are marked by violent attacks, intimidation, and the exploitation of vulnerable youth.
Many gang members, the report said, are young males with limited education and histories of substance abuse, recruited through peer influence and financial incentives.
The persistence of gangs is linked to a range of socio-economic, cultural, and structural factors, including high unemployment, poverty, weak family support systems, and poor education.
Political exploitation, community tolerance of crime, and corruption among rogue government officials and law enforcement officers also contribute to the gangs’ endurance.
Despite various mitigation efforts, including law enforcement, intelligence gathering, and youth empowerment programs, the survey found that these measures have not been wholly effective.
Inadequate resources for law enforcement, weak community cooperation, and political interference were cited as major barriers to tackling the gangs.
Public sensitization and community policing initiatives, such as Nyumba Kumi, were among the most highly rated interventions, while rehabilitation programs for reformed gang members received lower ratings due to challenges in implementation and societal acceptance.
The NCRC has called for a change in approach to combat criminal gang proliferation, recommending a multi-faceted, evidence-based strategy that includes strengthening law enforcement and criminal justice responses, enhancing community engagement, and addressing the socio-economic factors that drive gang recruitment.
The center also emphasized the need to combat drug trafficking, improve political and security institutions, and enhance the use of technology in law enforcement.
