Security agencies identify 126 organised gangs operating in Nairobi

A new security assessment has revealed the scale of organised crime operating within Nairobi, with authorities confirming the presence of dozens of structured gangs across the city.

The findings are from an intelligence-driven operation that has now entered an active phase marked by arrests and sustained security action.

Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, Nairobi Regional Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said security agencies have identified at least 126 criminal groups following a focused programme aimed at tackling insecurity and organised crime.

Kitiyo said the initiative was designed to expose how the gangs function and to guide enforcement efforts.

He added that the operation had already progressed from intelligence work to arrests, with security teams taking action in several parts of the capital.

“When it comes to organised crime, these are criminals who use all manner of tricks and ways to reach out to people,” Kitiyo said.“In Nairobi, we have recorded almost 126 criminal gangs using various names.”

Kitiyo said the gangs are not random but operate within known areas and follow organised systems that include leadership structures, communication links, and meeting points used for coordination and recruitment. He said security agencies carried out in-depth profiling to understand each group’s operations.

“What we normally do is clear mapping where we identify those groups and even gang leaders, their telephone numbers, where they operate and how they operate, and then we take care of them,” Kitiyo said.

The Commissioner said the exercise was conducted under the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) on insecurity and organised crime, which was launched on October 15 this year.

He said the programme was set up to achieve fast and visible results through joint efforts by different security units.

“On October 15 this year, we launched a programme called RRI on insecurity and organised crime,” he said. “We did the mapping to understand these groups, and that's how we came up with the 126 groups.”

After completing the mapping stage, Kitiyo said authorities moved to deal directly with individuals linked to the gangs.

He revealed that many suspects have already been arrested, and operations are continuing as security teams pursue remaining members and leaders.

“Now we are targeting individuals, and so many of them have been arrested, and we continue arresting them even now,” he said.

Kitiyo said the RRI programme also focuses on dismantling environments commonly used by gangs to plan crimes, recruit new members, and evade police.

Other Topics To Read

• City Affairs
• crime
• Rapid Results Initiative
• Security
• Criminal Gangs
• Gilbert Kitiyo
• 126 criminal gangs
• Nairobi security mapping
• organised crime Nairobi
• gang arrests Nairobi
• RRI insecurity programme
• Security agencies identify 126 organised gangs operating in Nairobi
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“With that RRI, there are several things we were focusing on, including criminal gangs, cartels, illicit brew dens,” he said, noting that gang members often “hang around there.”

He highlighted that pool tables and informal entertainment spots were among locations flagged as regular meeting points for criminals.

As a result, police have increased patrols, inspections, and crackdowns in such areas as part of the wider security operation.

According to Kitiyo, the ongoing actions are aimed at improving safety in Nairobi, weakening organised crime networks, and discouraging young people from joining gangs.

He urged residents to work closely with law enforcement by sharing information, saying community cooperation remains essential to sustaining progress made through the RRI programme.