NAIROBI, Kenya — A wave of violence involving groups of motorcycle-riding attackers has sent shockwaves through the Kenyan capital, with multiple incidents of robbery, assault, and clashes with security officers reported across Nairobi this week.
On Wednesday morning, two suspected boda boda riders were lynched by an angry mob after a robbery spree in several parts of the city, including Thika Road, Westlands, Chiromo, Kileleshwa and Kilimani, where pedestrians and even police officers were attacked.
The violence erupted shortly after a presidential event attended by President William Ruto in Lucky Summer, according to police.
Several suspects have been arrested and investigations are continuing as victims come forward.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes where groups of motorcyclists swooped down on unsuspecting commuters and shoppers along key corridors, robbing phones, wallets and other valuables, sometimes clashing with officers deployed to provide security along the presidential motorcade route.
But this is not a unique incident.
This is so frightening 😱😱Earlier today around 3pm, a large group of boda bodas with multiple riders were moving together snatching from and harassing people.This goon behavior needs to stop. They are audacious enough to do this near a police station.
-Police and Political Links Under Scrutiny-
In recent months, police have publicly acknowledged that goons, loosely organised groups often on motorbikes, have been mobilised during political events.
A senior DCI officer told Y News that some groups appear to be staged around high-profile visits within Nairobi, with motivations that extend beyond ordinary criminality into politically charged activity.
During President Ruto’s inspection tours of Nairobi in March 2025, police admitted that goons who claimed to be part of welcoming crowds ended up harassing and robbing members of the public around major shopping districts like Sarit Centre in Westlands.
The overwhelming scale of the activity forced authorities to redeploy additional officers to cover routes used by the presidential entourage.
Critics have argued that political actors, particularly those aligned with the ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), have tacitly encouraged or turned a blind eye to the presence of these groups as a form of crowd control or influence during key events.
This Ash Wednesday at about 3 pm Westlands turned out to be a horror movie.About 50 Boda Boda riding in pairs carrying 2 passengers each rode through Chiromo road, Rapta Road and Ring Road heading to Kileleshwa.They dropped passengers to rob and then ride.They were
-Role in Gen Z Protests-
Armed gangs backed by politicians were used to counter Gen Z protestors in 2024 and 2025, with reports that some women were sexually assaulted.
Several individuals who infiltrated the protests later confessed to being hired for the purpose of creating disorder, admitting they were mobilised by influential figures to confront demonstrators and disrupt the otherwise peaceful rallies.
Some said they were promised payment for their actions, though many ended up unpaid or underpaid.
Human rights activists and civic organisations said these gangs were not random criminals, but were organised and deployed to undermine the protests and discredit the Generation Z movement.
Critics pointed to social media footage and viral scenes of goons chanting pro‑political slogans while courts and businesses were damaged during the unrest.
The gangs were also seen working with the police to attack the protestors.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) documented numerous human rights abuses during nationwide demonstrations in 2025.
The Commission highlighted the deployment of masked hired goons on motorbikes who patrolled cities and brutally attacked protestors and innocent civilians with blunt objects such as tyre whips and wooden bars.
Witness accounts also pointed to widespread robbery and intimidation, with many people forced to flee to safety as violence unfolded.
Goons have infiltrated town and are stealing from people. They’re on Bodas masked and are carrying weapons. The police, the real criminals are enabling them
-Public and Political Reactions-
Critics, including opposition politicians, activists and clergy, have expressed alarm over the growing phenomenon of armed motorbike gangs operating with impunity in Nairobi.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua publicly blamed the State at one point, claiming that goons were allowed to loot and destroy property during the July 7, 2025, Saba Saba demonstrations and that authorities had failed to protect civilians.
Leading religious figures have warned that the unchecked presence of armed gangs, sometimes operating alongside uniformed officers, threatens to erode public safety and push Kenya toward instability if not addressed decisively.
Meanwhile, the government and security services have insisted that they will not tolerate the use of goons or hired mobs to disrupt public order, with senior officials warning that those found recruiting or enabling such groups, including former security personnel, could face legal action.
Human rights defenders have highlighted police complicity or inaction in the face of gang violence.
On January 25, 2026, a violent disruption of a church service at Witima Anglican Church of Kenya was executed by masked attackers and goons operating alongside police, targeting worshippers and political figures during a service.
