Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested fourteen suspects belonging to the notorious Mbogi la Izraim Territory gang.
In a statement on Tuesday, November 22, DCI stated that the suspected gangsters were arrested during a two-day operation whose objective was to neutralize every form of crime in Kakamega county.
The arrests followed a crackdown by Kenya Police Service and DCI that was launched on Sunday, November 20, following a spate of criminal activities in the region.
Three get-away motorcycles, metal bars, bloodstained machetes, clothes, and assorted electronics including mobile phones were recovered during the operation.
The gang has been a concern to traders in Kakamega County and has been linked to a number of murder cases in the past.
“The gang was stealing nothing from its targets, besides the heinous attacks that left them either dead or mutilated,” the DCI reported.
The gang is said to be targeting people who work during the night, especially the guards in markets and entertainment joints.
“Over 10 cases of murders and serious assaults linked to the syndicate were reported on diverse dates between October and November,” stated the DCI.
On November 17, the gang allegedly committed two murders on the same night at close intervals. According to DCI, their first target was a 58-year-old John Mulama who worked as a security guard at Club 2000 within Kambi Somali.
“He was attacked and murdered at his place of work, before his killers proceeded to Amalemba bus Stage where they also ended the life of 59-year-old Festo Iluma, also a watchman at DEE’s Pub, “ the crime investigators noted.
On November 19, the gang reportedly attacked other two victims killing one while the other was lucky to survive with multiple injuries after screaming for help.
“At Mahiakhalo in Bukhungu location, they killed Patrick Kipkosgei, 24, a 5th year student at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in cold blood.”
That same night, Isaiah Kiprono a 1st year student at the same university survived by the skin of his teeth, when the machete-wielding gang accosted him while opening his house,” DCI reported.
Mbogi La Izraim Territory’s main objective was to revenge after three thugs suspects were subjected to mob justice.
Kakamega law court granted the DCI custodial orders to hold the suspects for 21 days.
This comes as three other main suspects were arrested following a four-day sting operation conducted by detectives from the elite Crime Research & Intelligence Bureau, to put to an end the escalating crime wave that had bedeviled Embu county.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE