Kindiki Plots Raid In Tala To Flush Out Gangs Who Escaped From Nairobi

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Friday, March 22 announced a crackdown in Tala Town, Machakos County through a special operation aimed at weeding out criminals who are taking refuge from Nairobi County.

Speaking during a visit to the town, the CS revealed that criminal gangs fond of terrorising residents living in Nairobi's Eastlands were fleeing to towns neighbouring the capital city owing to an intensified security operation.

Kindiki referred to intelligence reports showing how the brazen criminals were taking advantage of low vigilance in the small towns to evade capture after committing crimes in the city, a report which was informed by the recent surge of criminal activities in the town of Machakos County.

The CS thus indicated that the officers in Tala were briefed on the migrations and had already crafted a plan to hunt down the criminals. 

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki speaking at Tala in Matungulu Sub-County on March 22, 2024. /KITHURE KINDIKI

"Some of the criminal gangs terrorising the Nairobi Eastlands, according to credible intelligence, are using suburbs of Tala Township to plan their crimes and to debrief," he revealed.

Additionally, he expressed that the police would be more vigilant to ensure that the gangs do not migrate to other towns before the operation is conducted.

The crackdown, he added, shall proceed alongside the Nationwide Programme to rid the country of illicit brews, narcotic drugs and substance abuse.

"Law enforcement agencies in Machakos County are directed to roll back the rising cases of drug peddling, sale and consumption of narcotic drugs and shisha, and child pornography in the environs of Tala in Matungulu Sub-County.

"At Tala in Matungulu Sub-County, concluded a sitting to review law enforcement measures and strategies to flush out drug dealers, shisha consumers and sellers, and criminal gangs," he stated.

Kindiki added that notwithstanding the remarkable strides by the Nairobi security and law enforcement apparatus to reign in on urban crime within Nairobi, several parts of the City County continue to report cases of muggings, street robbery and homicide.

He cited occasional criminal activity in Kasarani, Njiru, Mathare and Kibra Sub-Counties as well as the Central Business District which he added remain a key priority for eradication.

Meanwhile, the CS also maintained that the ongoing operation on drug abuse was gathering momentum as thousands of illegal companies were shut down.

Furthermore, the crackdown would stretch to more establishments targeted for closure even as police shift their attention to bars operating near schools and residential areas.

"Countrywide, 4,800 alcoholic outlets operating within the prohibited proximity to basic learning institutions have been closed and licenses revoked. Over 9,500 unlicensed alcoholic drinks selling premises have been shut and 12 distilleries of toxic brews destroyed to disable further production," he added.

"All licenses of manufacturers and distillers of second-generation alcoholic drinks remain suspended and production is prohibited until the completion of ongoing security and compliance vetting is concluded by the end of this month."

Likewise, Kindiki announced stringent measures to hold individual commanders of security agencies in Kenya accountable for any breaches within their respective jurisdictions, except where it is demonstrable that they have taken reasonable measures to avert or mitigate the breach, highlighting the government's commitment to ensuring effective command and control in maintaining law and order.

Under the directives issued by the Interior Ministry, every county security team is mandated to implement comprehensive security measures, including preventive strategies and timely law enforcement actions.