Police in Kisii launch manhunt for gang behind deadly machete attacks

Police in Kisii town have launched a manhunt for a notorious gang of youth suspected to be behind a wave of brutal crime that has claimed the life of one young man and left several others with life-threatening machete and knife injuries, mostly to the face and head.

During this holiday season, the gang has been spotted roaming around the town and its environs using a motorcycle with no registration number.

Reports about the existence of a violent youth gang first emerged on social media, before residents began confirming that the threat was real and unfolding right in their midst.

Images seen by Citizen TV tell a painful story. They show some of the young men who narrowly escaped death at the hands of the gang.

Deep machete cuts, stab wounds and severe injuries are visible on their heads and bodies. One young man has been confirmed dead following these vicious attacks in Jogoo area.

One of the many victims of the gang, came face-to-face with the criminals near Daraja Moja.

In Upper Hill, Egesa, on the outskirts of Kisii town, residents say the area becomes a no-go zone from as early as 7pm.

For many years Kisii County has been known as a haven of peace but with the emerging gangs within the town centre that status is slowly fading away.

In Upper Hill within Kisii municipality, Citizen TV met a youth who escaped death by a whisker. What did he see? And did he manage to identify the criminals?

Phaminus Ongera, a 23-year-old youth, says he is lucky to be alive. The gang attacked him, slashed him with a machete and stabbed him several times before he lost consciousness.

The Kisii Polytechnic graduate was left with severe injuries to his head and thighs, his body is still wrapped in bandages.

“It was around 8pm. Nilikutana na vijana hao pale mtoni, mmoja alikuwa na panga, mwengine chuma na kisu. Panga nilikatwa kichwa alafu hapa kwa mapaja nikadungwa kisu mara nne...ilifika mahali nilicollapse nikajipata hosy,” recounts Ongera.

Zipporah Bonareri, a business owner, said: “Hapa ni mahali hatari, sisi tulikuwa tunafunga biashara 9p.m, na sahii saa moja tumetoka na kufunga biashara, watu wanachinjwa na wakora hapa.”

In Nyanchwa, the situation is just as dire, with residents claiming they have been attacked even near a police station.

“They operate even near the police station. I was stabbed on the lip when I tried to defend myself after they attempted to snatch my phone,” narrated another victim.

Some of the most affected areas are Nyanchwa, Egesa, Jogoo, Upper Hill, Mosocho, Gekomu, Capital Roundabout, Mwembe, Daraja Moja, Daraja Mbili.

Security agencies have confirmed that investigations are ongoing, urging members of the public to make formal reports to aid in the arrest of the suspects.

Kisii Central OCPD Musa Omari said: “We want people to come out and make formal complaints so that we can investigate and make immediate arrests.”

For now, residents can only wait and hope that police will move with speed to arrest the youths who continue to put countless lives at risk.