Boinnet says already they have narrowed down on a number of people behind the move, who are working with politicians/MIKE KARIUKI
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 26 – Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet says some individuals plan to revive organised criminal gangs ahead of the 2017 General Election.
Boinnet says already they have narrowed down on a number of people behind the move, who are working with politicians.
Some of the gangs include the dreaded Mungiki, Sungu Sungu, Gaza which operates within Kayole area, Super Power, and Sitaki Kujua.
Other gangs are the American Marines in Kisumu, Kenda Kenda in Kirinyaga, Haribika Boys in Kericho, The Baragoli Boys in Migori, Ward 4 in Muranga among others.
“We are aware of individuals who want to revive these groups,” he said.
“They are doing so with an eye on the upcoming electioneering period so that they align themselves with various candidates, obviously for money.”
Police will be summoning the suspects among them some politicians.
The police boss says the individuals trying to resuscitate the illegal groups mostly work in distribution or manufacturing of illicit brews and want to use the groups to cause violence and solicit for money.
Boinnet has warned that any move by such groups and their agents will be met with the full force of law.
“We will not allow these groups to flourish,” he warned.
One of the strategies towards the elimination of the illegal groups, he says will include revitalizing the war on illicit brews.
“Police in conjunction with the National administration are determined to root out their illicit activities,” he said.
He warned that any police officer found to be colluding with the brewers of the second generation drinks will be dismissed.
READ: Pain of a Kenyan slum dweller under criminal gangs and police
Previous police reports indicate that Nairobi has more than 30 criminal gangs, most of them operating in slum areas.
Boinnet says the country have 55 ‘serious’ gangs and are spread in all parts of the country according to Boinnet.
Organized crime is a category of national or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals who intend to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for money and profit.
Sometimes criminal organizations force people to do business with them, such as when a gang extorts money from shopkeepers for so-called “protection”
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