Police in Kakamega have arrested two more suspects linked to crushed ‘Mbogi la Izram Territory’ criminal gang.
In a statement on Sunday, November 27, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said Omar Juma, aged 35 and Clinton Emonye, 21, were arrested near Julika Petrol Station in Kakamega town on Saturday while preparing to commit a felony.
The suspects are said to have been armed with crude weapons including metal cutters and sharp metal rods at the time of the arrest.
The duo then led the detectives to their house at Kakoi corner close to Kabras market, where assorted electronic and household goods suspected to have been stolen were recovered.
“They are currently being held at Kakamega Police station pending arraignment in court tomorrow morning,” DCI said.
The arrest comes barely a week after 14 other suspects linked to the dreaded gang were nabbed in the ongoing crackdown on marauding thugs in Nyanza and Western regions.
The suspects are linked to 10 cases of murder and assault involving night guards manning marketplaces and entertainment joints in Kakamega town.
The youthful group is said to have been terrorising the residents for the past two months.
In the recent incidents, police said, the gang stole nothing from its targets, besides the heinous attacks that left them either dead or mutilated.
“Over 10 cases of murders and serious assaults linked to the syndicate were reported on diverse dates between October and November, three of the murders occurring on 17th & 19th of November,” the statement read in part.
Kakamega cold-blood killings
In one of the incidents that is said to have occurred on November 17, 58-year-old John Mulama —a security guard at Club 2000 within Kambi Somali — was attacked and murdered at his place of work.
After the cold blood killing, the thugs proceeded to Amalemba Bus stage where they also ended the life of 59-year-old Festo Iluma, also a watchman at DEE’s Pub.
On the night of November 19, the bloody gang is said to have advanced its attacks to Mahiakhalo in Bukhungu location, killing Patrick Kipkosgei, a 24-year-old 5th-year student at Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology.
That same night, the killers attacked Isaiah Kiprono, a 1st-year student at the same university, with machetes, leaving him with serious injuries.
The machete-wielding gang accosted the student while opening his house before attacking him with the pangas.
“He braved several cuts as he yelled his lungs out, causing his adversaries to flee,” police added.
Preliminary investigations indicate ‘Mbogi La Izraim Territory’ gang was formed to avenge three robbery suspects, who were previously cornered and subjected to mob justice by members of the public.
“The gang believes watchmen informed on them, hence becoming the major targets,” DCI added.
