NAIROBI, Kenya – A sweeping security assessment has uncovered the extent of organised crime in Nairobi, with authorities identifying at least 126 structured criminal gangs operating across the capital.
The findings, drawn from an intelligence-led operation now in its enforcement phase, have prompted arrests and intensified security actions in several neighbourhoods as agencies move to dismantle the networks.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, Nairobi Regional Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said the assessment was part of a focused programme aimed at confronting insecurity and organised crime in the city.
“On matters of organised crime, these are not random criminals,” Kitiyo said. “In Nairobi, we have recorded almost 126 criminal gangs operating under different names.”
According to the commissioner, the gangs are deeply entrenched within specific localities and operate through organised systems that include identifiable leaders, communication channels, and designated meeting points used for coordination and recruitment.
Security agencies, he said, conducted extensive profiling to understand how each group functions before moving in.
“What we normally do is a clear mapping where we identify the groups, their leaders, their telephone numbers, where they operate and how they operate — and then we take care of them,” Kitiyo said.
The operation is being carried out under the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) on insecurity and organised crime, launched on October 15 this year.
The programme brings together multiple security units with the aim of delivering swift and visible results.
Kitiyo said the mapping phase of the operation has already been completed, paving the way for targeted arrests.
“We have now moved to individuals. Many of them have been arrested, and we continue arresting them even now,” he said, adding that the pursuit of remaining members and ringleaders is ongoing.
Beyond arrests, the RRI programme is also targeting environments commonly used by gangs to plan crimes, recruit new members and evade police detection.
“These include criminal gangs, cartels and illicit brew dens, where such individuals often hang around,” Kitiyo said.
He noted that pool tables and informal entertainment spots had been flagged as regular meeting points for criminal elements, prompting increased patrols, inspections and crackdowns in such areas.
Authorities say the sustained operations are intended to improve safety in Nairobi, weaken organised crime networks and discourage young people from joining gangs.
Kitiyo urged residents to support the effort by working closely with law enforcement and sharing information, saying community cooperation is critical to sustaining gains made under the RRI programme.
