Concerns have been raised over emergence of gangs in Karen.[Photo/CS]A gang operating on motorbikes has been terrorising Karen residents in the last two weeks.
The main pattern for the attacks is where the victims are left with deep cuts which suggests that it is the same gang.
Recently in one of the attacks along Nyumba Moja Road, two men on a motorbike confronted three men at about 9.30pm and stabbed one of them in the stomach when he tried to fight back.
Incidentally another person was attacked just about a kilometre away by a gang on a motorbike. Yoni Rattansi said his belly was ripped open when he tried to ward off the attackers, who were young boys who seemed very casually but smartly dressed.
He said they had apparently attacked another victim near Bomas of Kenya.
“If they had no gun, I would have fought to the end but they threatened to shoot, forcing me into submission,” said Mr Rattansi, adding that he was admitted in hospital for one and a half weeks.
Two other people were reportedly attacked on the stretch of Bomas wher he was also attacked. And in another attack along the road heading to Mamba Village off Langata Road, a man was attacked by two gun-toting thugs on a motorbike and robbed of Sh20,000.
Another attack happened on the road going down to Kuwinda slums on the same night. Boda boda riders in the area are worried that the attacks might set them on a collision course with security agencies.
“These thieves most likely come from outside Karen and ride in to wreak havoc before disappearing,” said Godfrey Omondi.
He said in 2014, when he started his boda boda business in the area, there were few cases of theft. But in 2015, there was a rise in the attacks on residents, which led to a security order banning boda boda riders from operating past 7pm.