The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen has said there’s an ongoing security operation to address rising cases of mugging in the Nairobi CBD. 

Murkomen noted that cases of theft and mugging are issues that should ordinarily be addressed on an ongoing basis. 

He said the government has taken note of a surge in violent robberies, many of which are linked to groups posing as street children.

Speaking during a Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Bungoma, the Interior CS revealed that the so-called street children are in organised groups, some armed with knives, who have been staging coordinated attacks.

“It’s the daily responsibility of the OCS to address these kinds of issues, but if there are operational weaknesses on the side of the police,  we will redeploy to address the gaps,” he said.

The CS assured Nairobi residents that just like the government contained the Panga Boys gang menace in Mombasa early in the year, the mugging in Nairobi will be stamped out. 

He observed that some of the perpetrators are underage street children, while others are adult criminals pretending to be homeless. 

“We have noticed that part of the problem is being caused by individuals who pose as street children, yet they are of significant adult age. They pretend to be homeless, but their main agenda is to rob and attack people. This must stop,” he said.

The CS assured the public that the government is committed to restoring security and will deal firmly with any weaknesses in policing.