Residents of Gautanya are now living in fear after some local youth formed gangs that terrorise them every now and then.
The criminals mainly target livestock and business owners where they carry weapons mainly pistols which they use to kill or maim their targets before stealing robbing them money, cattle, and other valuables.
In the last one week, the dreaded goons shot one Baba Shiru alias Simon Nguru on the chest while walking home together with his wife Susan Nduta at 10.00 pm.
“Three armed gangsters riding on a motorcycle stopped near us and began attacking my husband. They overpowered him and pinned him on the ground. One thief shot him on the chest, the other bullet missed his head, and the third shot was fired in the air," said Nduta.
Speaking while receiving treatment at Thika Level Five, the local butcher said that he managed to escape to a nearby house where the owner, a lady, raised alarm and people took him to the hospital.
One of the residents recounted how another victim was attacked and shot in December, last year. The thugs asked for Sh300,000.
"These thugs attacked Dono alias Baba Peter in the night and asked for Sh300,000 from his wife. Dono is so lucky to be alive after receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital," he said.
Another resident narrated how an M-Pesa attendant got shot and the thugs took away money of unknown value.
Yet another man taking money to a nearby construction site to pay workers was accosted by the same thugs and got shot in broad daylight. No action so far.
The people of Gatuanyaga are now requesting the local administartion to find ways to crackdown on the gangsters who continue terrorize them without iota of mercy.