Nairobi’s Central Business District has in recent months turned into a hotspot of crime, with a sharp rise in cases of daylight muggings.
Pedestrians are being attacked in full view of the public, often at knifepoint, and in some cases disoriented with dangerous substances like “Devil’s Breath.”
What was once considered the heart of the city is now being described by many as a no-go zone, where thugs stab, rob, and even smear waste on their victims to distract them.
The brazenness of these attacks has left many Nairobians shaken and fearful of walking through the city center.
Many Kenyans on X have connected the insecurity to the aftermath of the 2024 anti-government protests. Those demonstrations, sparked in June 2024 by anger over a controversial finance bill, saw thousands fill the streets demanding reforms.
However, reports from that time show that politicians allegedly hired goons from informal settlements such as Mathare and Kayole to infiltrate protests, cause chaos, and intimidate the Gen Z movement.
Among names mentioned in mobilizing such groups were former governors Gideon Mbuvi Sonko and Ferdinand Waititu, who were accused of coordinating groups to counter protesters.
These gangs reportedly used routes like Ngong Road to access the city, robbing people along the way and disrupting public assembly.
When the protests ended after the government was forced to make concessions, the flow of money to these hired groups dried up. Left without income, many of the young men adapted their tactics, shifting from political disruption to outright street crime.
The skills that had been weaponized during demonstrations are now being used against innocent pedestrians, turning Nairobi’s CBD into a hunting ground.
Social media users compare this trend to situations in other countries, such as Nigeria’s Bakassi Boys or Haiti’s G9 gangs, where state-backed vigilantes grew into uncontrollable criminal networks.
Observers warn that if left unchecked, Nairobi could face a similar problem, with gangs becoming entrenched like those seen in parts of South Africa.
Police response has been weak, with some officers accused of watching as muggings happen.
This has raised concerns of collusion or familiarity between law enforcers and the criminals.
The issue is worsened by reports that groups linked to the old Mungiki network have re-emerged, allegedly backed by political interests.
During the height of protests, these gangs surrounded crowds in areas like River Road and Globe Roundabout, isolating demonstrators. Now, with no protests to contain, they prey on everyday citizens, stealing phones and stabbing those who resist.
The situation has been worsened by poverty, unemployment, and betrayal by leaders who use young men for political gain, then abandon them.
This cycle has created a culture of impunity, where gangs feel free to continue their activities because no action was taken when they disrupted protests.
Corruption and weak governance at both county and national levels have deepened the problem, leaving residents to fend for themselves. Many now advise each other to carry pepper spray and stay alert, since relying on police for protection has become unrealistic.
This crisis represents more than just a crime wave. It is the result of a dangerous political strategy where vulnerable youth were hired to destabilize protests, then left to fend for themselves in a collapsing economy.
The state’s monopoly on violence has been diluted by empowering these groups, and Nairobi risks long-term insecurity if decisive action is not taken. Unless authorities step in to dismantle these networks and offer meaningful opportunities to young people, the city could sink deeper into lawlessness, with its streets continuing to serve as a grim reminder of political games played at the expense of ordinary citizens.
