At least 126 criminal gangs have been identified in Nairobi, according to Regional Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo, who says focused operations since October have improved security across the city.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, Kitiyo said arrests, intelligence-led mapping, and community policing have helped curb crime ahead of the festive season, despite earlier unrest.
The Commissioner explained that detailed mapping of gangs included information on their leadership, contacts, and areas of operation. “So now what we did is very clear mapping, where we identify those groups and even the gang leaders, their telephone numbers, where they operate and how they operate,” he said.
Kitiyo said a dedicated programme targeting insecurity and organised crime was launched on October 15. “Around October 15, we launched a programme which we call the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) on insecurity and organised crimes,” he noted, adding that the initiative also tackles activities of political goons who later turn into criminal gangs.
He acknowledged that arrests are ongoing even when convictions are not immediately possible. “You can arrest someone and at that particular moment there was nothing on them, so obviously you cannot convict them,” he said. “But for us, we will be very happy because this man would have known that he’s known. They know that they are being targeted.”
According to Kitiyo, some arrests occur overnight as operations continue daily.
Nairobi has long recorded some of the highest crime levels in Kenya. The 2025 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that the Nairobi City Police Command Station accounted for the largest share of reported crimes in 2024, with 9,717 cases, representing 9.6 percent of all national crimes. This was slightly lower than the 11,108 cases recorded in 2023.
Despite an overall national drop in reported crime of around 3.5 percent in 2024, Nairobi remained the most affected, followed by counties such as Kiambu and Meru, highlighting persistent insecurity in the capital.
Kitiyo said the city’s security situation has improved compared to earlier in the year. “Our situation has really improved from the past,” he said. “We had a lot of challenges some few months back, especially during the Gen Z demonstrations.”
He added that political actors had initially mobilised groups described as goons, who later transformed into criminal gangs. These groups exploited unrest to terrorise residents and steal from the public. “Down the line to now, we have taken care of it,” Kitiyo said. “Nowadays, I’m sure you don’t see them anywhere. They are not there in the streets. Some of them have either been arrested, some have given up totally.”
Crime data over several years shows Nairobi consistently experiences high crime rates, with offences including robbery, theft, and homicide reported frequently. Recent surveys highlight youth-led groups and muggings in the central business district, often involving threats with makeshift weapons, indicating ongoing challenges with urban crime.
Addressing the role of politicians in organising such groups, Kitiyo said accountability is not always public. “There is a lot which happens in the background,” he said. “It might not come to the public domain. It is not a field day for them.”
He noted that Nairobi benefits from strong police coverage, with officers deployed in both uniform and plain clothes. “We have very good numbers of policemen, different units,” he said, explaining that deployment decisions are made by station commanders and local security committees. “You see askaris in kabutis, but there are also others in plain clothes,” he added, noting that criminals often fail to detect undercover officers.
Security coordination is handled through a regional security committee chaired by Kitiyo, which includes senior police officers, intelligence services, the military, Kenya Wildlife Service, and Kenya Forest Service.
Beyond security, Kitiyo outlined the broader mandate of his office, including coordinating national government functions not devolved to counties and overseeing development projects. “All these projects you see in Nairobi coming up, the national government projects, it is within my purview to supervise them,” he said.
He also serves as the Senior Protocol Officer in the region, overseeing presidential visits. “Whenever the President is within Nairobi, you’ll always see me either receiving him or escorting him,” Kitiyo said.
On crime-prone areas, he said informal settlements are particularly challenging due to large populations and poor infrastructure. “The numbers are just huge,” he said, adding that unemployment and inadequate housing contribute to criminal activity. To address this, authorities rely on community structures such as Nyumba Kumi, village elders, chiefs, and neighbourhood committees. “We are trying our best to use the Nyumba Kumi, the village elders, the chiefs and the neighbourhood committees,” he said, noting that they help identify offenders within their communities.
As the festive season approaches, Kitiyo confirmed that security operations remain active. “It’s ongoing,” he said. “Operations continue every day.”
