Kitale town has become increasingly vulnerable to a wave of teenage criminal gangs, whose reign of terror is affecting residents across the community. Armed with crude weapons, these youths engage in robbery, burglary, and other violent acts—striking mostly under the cover of night. Many are known to disguise themselves as boda boda (motorcycle taxi) operators, enabling them to ambush unsuspecting locals before looting property or fleeing into the informal settlements of Tuwan and Matisi on the town’s outskirts.
A key driver behind this surge in youth crime is a combination of socio-economic challenges: rampant unemployment, parental neglect, and political manipulation are creating an environment where vulnerable minors—many of whom are abandoned or neglected—are driven into criminal activity. The county’s Children’s Department reports that more than 3,000 neglected minors are at risk of involvement in crime.
One harrowing incident was shared by Jane Gitonga, a trader from Mitume Booster area. She recounts being threatened with rape and murder by armed teenage gang members while returning from her business. She managed to escape by paying them KSh 40,000.
Local leaders and security agencies are calling out systemic failures that allow these gangs to thrive. Administrators have highlighted the rampant use of illegal substances in Tuwan and Matisi and the gaps in law enforcement—where chiefs may arrest criminals but police often fail to ensure justice is served. This lack of coordination has only emboldened the gangs.
On August 24, during a high-level security meeting chaired by Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi, authorities demanded that 27 suspects—six of whom were secondary school students—surrender to law enforcement or face stringent legal consequences. Commissioner Oyagi warned that many of these youths already had prior criminal records going back to primary school. Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department is intensifying efforts by identifying crime hotspots and gathering intelligence to dismantle the gangs.
Political figures are not absolved from scrutiny. Matisi MCA Francis Were accused some local elected leaders of sponsoring youth gangs to serve their own agendas. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, responding to the crisis, encouraged youth engagement in income-generating activities. He pledged KSh 1 million to support youth groups in Matisi aimed at mitigating crime through empowerment initiatives.
Image Credits: https://www.paukwa.or.ke
