NCIC Report: Politicians financing 90% of criminal gangs in the country.
90% of organised criminal gangs in the country are financed
and deployed by politicians.
This has been revealed in a report released by National
Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) that was conducted in 15 counties.
According to the survey, there are 116 organised criminal
gangs in the counties of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, Bungoma, Siaya, Kiambu,
Murang’a, Nyamira, Narok, Kisii, Bomet and Nyeri, 90% of whose activities are being
driven by either politicians or relatives to politicians.
In 2016, the Ministry of Interior blacklisted 90 groups it
considered as criminal gangs but according to the report, most of them have
rebranded and adopted other names. The dreaded Mungiki gang is said to have
rebranded to Quails while the Sabaot Land Defense has metamorphosed to the 40
Brothers.
The report also revealed that majority of gang members are
aged between 15 and 35 years, making up 35% composition across the groups.
In some cases, children as young as 11 years have been recruited
into these groups and are used to carry out criminal activities including
attacks.
Mombasa County has in the recent days witnessed the
mushrooming of organised criminal gangs that have been terrorising locals with
some attacking during the day.
Bungoma County has witnessed the resurrection of the dreaded
Sabaot Land Defense which killed more than 40 people in the last three months.
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