Within seconds of being attacked, the image of Marvin Wandabwa became an instant hit on social media depicting the mugging menace that has taken the Central Business District (CBD) by storm.
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The 26-year-old businessman had just withdrawn Sh40,000 from Stanbic Bank along Kenyatta Avenue and was looking for an Mpesa shop to deposit the cash when, out of the blue, an arm clamped his neck from behind.
As he struggled for breath and freedom, three men surrounded him near Old Mutual Building along Kimathi Street. Within seconds, he was on the ground. The thugs took his money and an iPhone worth Sh120,000. This was around 6.30pm on January 9, 2018.
“I was left with torn clothes. I believe the attackers numbering between seven and ten were muggers,” says the cattle trader and Webuye East politician.
The incident, which was captured on video, soon went viral on social media, prompting a public outcry with Kenyans accusing police, national and county governments of failing to protect them.
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That criminals have taken over the CBD is not an exaggeration, but a reality several victims, some nursing permanent injuries, have faced.
Few months ago, the Bunge La Mwananchi raised the red flag, but police ignored the warning that muggers in their early 20s, were gradually taking control of city streets.
“We wrote several petitions to Central Police Station but no action was forthcoming and now the situation seems to be running out of control. The menace becomes worse whenever public events are held in the CBD,” says Henry Shitanda, president, Bunge La Mwananchi.
A victim of mugging three months ago, the official said the mugging menace started at Kencom, National Archives and Khoja before spiralling. Not deterred by CCTV cameras, presence of uniformed and plainclothes officers, the muggers have grown bolder with each passing day, robbing victims in the full glare of passers-by.
Shitanda lost a phone to a three-member gang whom he can hardly identify even if an identification parade is conducted. All he knows is that the criminals walk in a gang of between five to ten men.
Members of the public, he urges, should not fear rescuing victims from the hands of the thugs.
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“If we don’t unite, they become bolder,” observes the official.
Experts link the menace to poor politics with the leadership of Mike Sonko coming under criticism. They accuse the governor of relaxing rules, especially on hawking and public transport in a failed bid to appease his supporters.
Experts like Enock Makanga, Joel Musonye, Richard Tutah and Engineer Charles Kalomba argue that mugging opportunities emerged following the ambiguity surrounding Sonko’s leadership style. It has also emerged that some security agents are part of the problem.
“Let us not beat around the bush, the truth must be told. Sonko is the problem, he promised his supporters jobs and employment opportunities, which are not forthcoming and that is why some of them are turning into crime knowing very well protection will come from the governor’s office,” says Makanga, national chairman, Protective and Safety Association and also managing director Victory Security Consultants.
Following public pressure, Sonko formed an anti-mugging squad expected to work closed with a fresh team of police officers drawn from Kenya Police, Administration Police and Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
An undercover team of about 50 police officers that had been formed to deter crime in the CBD has been disbanded while 55 prisons warders brought in four years ago to complement police, have been recalled to their previous stations.
The muggers make mincemeat of the security fortress around the city – they strike at will and melt into the crowds casually. Apart from phones and laptops, hair wigs and earrings have also become easy picking in a capital city ringed with CCTV cameras backed by a sufficient number of security agents.
The cameras are connected to the multi-billion shilling Integrated Command, Control and Communications Centre (IC3) based at Jogoo House, the headquarters of National Police Service. Uniformed and covert officers carry out patrols as well as acting on leads relayed from the electronic command centre.
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The IC3 frequently received feeds on happenings along the streets. The hi-tech surveillance system was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Upon installation two years back, an undercover police team code-named Alpha Mike, was created to respond to crime leads from the CCTV cameras.
An officer privy to the modern system said the plainclothes cops, having stayed long on the streets, hardly respond to the leads. He claims this is because some of his colleagues collude with criminals in exchange of bribes.
“It is unfortunate and discouraging the Alpha Mike team has become complacent. Having stayed long in the CBD, the undercover officers hardly respond to tip-offs. The best solution is to redeploy them,” complained the officer.
The prison warders too were linked to crime following a robbery on January 8 at a uniform shop along Keekorok Road. About Sh 800,000 was grabbed. The robbers also stole mobile phones from customers.
The incident allegedly infuriated Central OCPD Robinson Thuku, who ordered their immediate removal. They ceased conducting beat patrols on January 15 and were deployed to complement anti-terrorism efforts.
They frequently faced accusations of harassing pedestrians especially those suspected to be foreigners. However, their mere presence kept off the streets some of the criminals.
“The OCPD called us thugs in uniform. Since he took over from Paul Wanjama, our relationship with him was not good at all,” said one of the warders.
The police boss maintained that the warders were kicked out following complaints that they solicited bribes from foreigners.
He regretted that just like detectives attached to the Alpha Mike squad, the warders had overstayed on the streets, becoming friends with some of the criminals. The commander dispelled doubts about the IC3 capacity and capability.
Apart from poor coordination among security agents, Tutah says the muggers could probably be aware the CCTV system is not working, hence the boldness. He insisted the cameras have failed in the key roles of deterrence, defence, defeat and detection.
“How else can you explain why a criminal is not worried about the presence of a camera but proceeds to commit a crime within the same vicinity?” argues Tutah.
Thuku admitted complicity on the part of a section of the security agents. “About the Alpha Mike officers, some have been there for long. The County Commander (Japheth Koome) is doing something to bring in fresh blood,” the OCPD said.
While welcoming the anti-mugging squad, the police boss revealed that uniformed teams of police officers will going forward, be stationed around Corner House, National Archives, Kimathi House, ICEA Building, Nation Centre, Kencom, Old Nation Roundabout and Globe Cinema Roundabout.
There have been questions about the composition of the anti-mugging squad with speculations that members could be civilians drawn from the Sonko Rescue Team.
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Tito Kilonzo, the county chief officer in charge of security, compliance and disaster management while downplaying the magnitude of the menace, assured that the anti-mugging team is composed of members from City Hall inspectorate department.
“On behalf of the governor, I formed the anti-mugging squads. The officers with quasi training have basic skills in security and will be working under the direction of the police team. Already my team has managed to arrest 30 suspected muggers,” said Kilonzo.
The major challenge, according to the security chief, is lack of witnesses once suspects are arraigned in court. Suspects are eventually set free after paying fines for petty offences. Recounting how two victims declined to testify in court, Kilonzo urged members of the public not to shy away from giving evidence.
The mugging menace, which he insists was being exaggerated through social media, was being influenced by the high number of hawkers on streets. A number of remedies in place include increasing the number of law enforcers, controlling hawking and decongestion.
“This is the capital city where people are competing for the limited employment opportunities. No wonder hawking, which is not a crime, becomes an easy choice for many trying to eke out a living.
The best approach is to go for those operating without licenses and those selling their wares in undesignated places,” explained Kilonzi while dismissing claims that some of Sonko’s fanatical followers were the ones behind the fresh wave of crime.
