By Nimah Abdi
NAIROBI — Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, has directed security agencies to urgently intensify operations against youthful gangs linked to a wave of violent robberies and stabbings that has left residents of Garissa Town and surrounding areas increasingly fearful.
Speaking on Saturday during a visit to Balambala Constituency in Garissa County, Duale described the escalating insecurity as “deeply concerning” and warned that the attacks were undermining public confidence, disrupting economic activity, and threatening community safety.
He called for immediate, coordinated action by police, intelligence units, and local administrators to dismantle the networks behind the violence, stressing that perpetrators must be swiftly arrested and prosecuted to restore order.
“Violence remains unacceptable, and I therefore urged the swift prosecution of those responsible,” Duale said, adding that security agencies must act decisively and without delay.
The appeal comes amid rising alarm over groups of knife-wielding gangs reportedly operating in coordinated teams, often using motorbikes to move quickly between locations during attacks.
Residents and local leaders say the gangs have been targeting pedestrians, boda-boda riders, and motorists, snatching valuables such as mobile phones and cash at knifepoint. Many of the incidents are reported to occur in both daylight hours and late at night, suggesting increasing boldness and organization among the attackers.
Security sources and community leaders say the gangs are believed to operate from several informal settlements, including parts of Bula Iftin and Garissa Ndogo, where they allegedly regroup after attacks and evade immediate arrest.
The incidents have triggered fear among residents, with some reportedly avoiding travel at night while others have altered daily routines due to concerns over safety.
In recent weeks, Garissa has witnessed several violent incidents that have intensified public concern over rising urban crime, including the fatal stabbing of a 25-year-old United States citizen of Somali descent in the Bula Mzuri area.
Authorities have also recorded other serious attacks, including the case of Ahmed Adan, who was reportedly stabbed multiple times along Forest Road after resisting an attempted phone theft. He survived the attack but remains part of a growing list of victims in what residents describe as an increasingly dangerous environment.
Community elders, youth leaders, and local officials have repeatedly urged the government to deploy additional security personnel and strengthen intelligence-led policing to curb the rising wave of violence.
The latest remarks by Duale add to mounting pressure on security agencies to contain the situation in Garissa, a strategically important border county where concerns over insecurity have persisted intermittently.
Authorities are yet to announce any large-scale arrests linked to the recent spate of attacks, but investigations are ongoing as operations against the gangs intensify.
