60 members of Kayole’s ‘Gaza’ gang surrender to Police
Sixty gang members of Kayole estate’s gang ‘Gaza’ have surrendered to authorities.
The youths, some of them teenagers and others still in early twenties, left the criminal gang after being offered amnesty by police.
They presented themselves to authorities at Njiru shopping centre on Monday, where they also denounced the gang and vowed to be law abiding citizens.
Members of the Gaza gang are feared in areas under their jurisdiction including Kayole, Dandora, Buruburu and Mihang’o.
Gang members are also known to openly brag about their exploits on social media.
They are known never to hesitate to either stab or shoot victims during robbery incidents.
SHOOT-TO-KILL
Speaking at the function attended by senior officers, Kayole police commander Ali Nuno issued his officers with a shoot-to-kill order when engaging with armed criminals.
“When you engage any criminal with a gun, shoot them. I will bear the consequences,” he said.
The rise of the gang led to a reshuffle of police commanders in Nairobi, in which known tough officers were sent to Kayole to tame the menace.
One of the officers deployed there is Chief Inspector Stephen Lelei who was stationed at Soweto police station.
The gang members who surrendered to authorities on Monday have now formed an organization and elected officials who will co-ordinate with security officials in monitoring their activities.
They elected Mr Amos Ndung’u as the chairman and Martin Muindi his deputy.
GANG ABOLISHED
“We have surrendered because we have been assured of safety. We were engaging in robberies but we shall stop henceforth. We have now abolished this gang and we do not want to be associated with it ever again,” said Mr Ndung’u.
The youths spoke in heavy sheng (slang language) and most of the times their words had to be translated.
Ms Rosalene Akinyi spoke on behalf of the girls.
“Some of us had nothing to do. After Form 4, we did not continue with education and because there were no jobs for us, we joined Gaza,” she said.
Kasarani MP John Njoroge gave them Sh 80,000 to help them start small businesses.
The youths will also be given identity cards.
Hundreds of residents of Njiru attended the function to have a glimpse of the gang. Many of them were shocked that the youths were “very young boys and girls.”