A citizen assembly in Nakuru Town West has laid bare the harrowing reality of life under the shadow of criminal syndicates, with residents accusing police of complicity and inaction.

The sun sets early in Nakuru City—not by nature's design, but by the decree of fear. By 6:00 PM, the vibrant bustle of the newest city in Kenya grinds to a premature halt. Shutters slam down on shops, M-Pesa agents retreat behind fortified grilles, and the streets empty out. This is not a curfew imposed by the government, but a survival tactic adopted by residents held hostage by the notorious "Confirm" gangs and their splinter factions.

On February 16, 2026, the simmering frustration of the populace boiled over. At a tense "Agenda Yetu" citizen assembly held at the AIC Shabaab church in Nakuru Town West, residents poured out their grief and anger. The gathering, organized by Uraia Trust, was meant to be a dialogue on service delivery—water shortages, drainage, and health services. Instead, it transformed into a collective indictment of the security apparatus that has seemingly surrendered the city to knife-wielding teenagers.

The Anatomy of Fear

The testimonials were chilling in their consistency. Residents described a city carved up into fiefdoms by criminal gangs who operate with impunity. These are not shadowy figures operating in the dark; they are brazen, attacking in broad daylight. Jane Kimani, a local trader, captured the despair of the business community: "The organized criminal gangs have crippled businesses in the estates. Traders close early or risk being attacked. We are working to feed thieves."

The modus operandi of these gangs has evolved. What began years ago as mobile money fraud syndicates (hence the name "Confirm") has metastasized into violent robbery, muggings, and home invasions. The gangs, often composed of young men and teenagers, roam the estates of Bondeni, Kivumbini, and Flamingo, armed with crude weapons. They do not just steal; they maim and terrorize, creating a psychological stranglehold on the community.

Accusations of Complicity

Perhaps the most damning element of the "Agenda Yetu" forum was the complete erosion of trust between the public and the police. Speaker after speaker accused law enforcement not just of incompetence, but of active collusion. The narrative is disturbingly familiar: a victim reports a crime, identifies the perpetrator, and within hours, the suspect is back on the street, emboldened and seeking retribution.

• The Revolving Door: Suspects arrested are allegedly released within an hour.
• Leakage of Information: Police are accused of revealing the identities of whistleblowers to the gangs.
• Retaliation: Residents cite fear of revenge attacks as the primary reason for silence.

"People are afraid to share information because confidentiality is not guaranteed. These criminals may retaliate against anyone who reports them," lamented one resident. This breakdown in the chain of trust has created a vacuum where vigilante justice looms as a dangerous alternative. When the state fails to monopolize violence, chaos is the inevitable successor.

A City on the Edge

Nakuru's status as a city was supposed to herald a new era of investment and growth. Instead, the insecurity crisis threatens to turn it into a ghost town. The economic impact is palpable. Property values in gang-infested areas are stagnating, and small businesses—the lifeblood of the local economy—are suffocating. The "micro-economy" of crime described by experts, where stolen goods circulate and hush money buys silence, is slowly replacing the legitimate economy.

Local leaders and the budget experts present, such as Peter Rono, attempted to steer the conversation toward policy solutions, but the immediate demand was visceral: security first. Without the guarantee of safety, discussions about drainage and water pipes feel like arranging deckchairs on the Titanic. The residents are calling for a complete overhaul of the local security command, demanding officers who are not embedded in the local patronage networks of the gangs.

The Path Forward

The cry from AIC Shabaab is a warning shot to the Ministry of Interior. The localized gang problem in Nakuru is a microcosm of a larger urban security challenge facing Kenya. If the "Confirm" gangs are not dismantled—root and branch—they will evolve into even more sophisticated criminal enterprises. For the mother closing her shop at sunset and the father walking his daughter home in fear, the time for "police reforms" and "stakeholder engagement" has passed. They want their streets back.

"We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for the right to walk to our homes without looking over our shoulders. Is that too much to ask in 2026?" asked a visibly emotional elder at the forum.