Nairobi CBD turns dangerous after dark as gangs terrorise pedestrians

Nairobi residents are living in fear following a resurgence of organised criminal gangs terrorising pedestrians in the Central Business District (CBD) after dark. A flood of videos shared on TikTok reveals chilling accounts of young men operating in groups along streets such as Moi Avenue, not only robbing but also threatening to harm their victims. One user, Miss Bree described a detailed ordeal she underwent along Kimathi Street. “I had gone to town to get my hair done and shop for back-to-school. I decided to pass by a restaurant to get dinner. As I was walking there, I saw a group of young boys standing around. It was half past 7 p.m., and it was dark with no lights and little human traffic,” she recounted. “As I was crossing, I saw a group of people following me. I ordered my cab and asked my driver to wait for me as I bought,” she added. She noted that a security guard in the area had recently been stabbed while trying to stop a mugging. Another Nairobi resident, Maimuna Abdinasir, issued a stark warning. “Be alert. It’s not safe in town anymore. There are young people walking around with knives. They want to rob you and kill you. There are no street lights in the hotspot areas, which have now become their den. Once it gets to 6 p.m., things get bad,” she said. She added: “Some will even smear you with human waste if you fail to cooperate. These people want to kill, not just steal. Please be safe out there.” The disturbing testimonies have reignited concerns about insecurity in the capital, once touted as a thriving 24-hour economy but now increasingly unsafe. Nairobi County Environment Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria acknowledged the problem, saying the gangs often blend in as content creators during the day before turning to crime at night. “These youths disguise themselves as Gen Z content creators in the CBD, but by around 5 p.m., they begin stealing from unsuspecting people. They operate in large groups of 20–30 criminals, surrounding victims and robbing them of all their belongings,” Mosiria said.

Source:TNX Kenya