Nairobi CBD Youth Gangs Raise Alarm Over Evening Crime Spike

If you have been in Nairobi’s CBD during the evening lately, you may have noticed groups of idle young men, some appearing to be in their late teens or early twenties, filming videos, posing for photos, or simply loitering along busy walkways.

They may not be as innocent as they seem.

Multiple reports are emerging of a sharp rise in violent crimes linked to these youth groups, especially in dimly lit alleys and corridors in the CBD.

Victims report being accosted by individuals wielding syringes, kitchen knives and even using human waste for intimidation.

Several people who spoke to the Star described traumatic encounters with these gangs, who seem to target young women and those hurrying to catch matatus in the early evening hours.

While police maintain that the perception of a crime spike is not accurate and that, in fact, the crime rate is tending downwards, this year's economic survey report by KNBS paints a different picture. 

According to the survey, the crime rate has been on a sustained rising trend since 2020, with the Nairobi City Police Command Station recording the highest reported crimes at 9.6 per cent during the period between 2020 to 2024.

The 2025 Economic Survey showed that 9,717 cases were reported in Nairobi in 2024, up from 5,844 in 2020.

The capital city, the report states, hit an all-time high of 11,108 reported cases in 2023.

James Mwori, who works in Upper Hill and commutes to Mwiki, said he was almost attacked while walking along Kenyatta Avenue near the Stanley Hotel around 6 pm on Monday.

“There were five guys who looked like they were just filming themselves dancing,” Mwori said.

“My instincts told me something was off, so I tried to pass them quickly. One of them stepped in front of me and threatened to smear faeces on my face unless I gave him my phone and wallet. Another pulled out a knife.”

He ran before they could grab him. 

“I was lucky. I didn’t wait to see what would happen.”

Ann Wanjiru, a university student, described a similarly frightening encounter on Friday evening near Khoja stage.

“I was waiting for a matatu when a group of young men came near me,” she said.

“They looked like TikTokers at first—laughing, holding phones, filming. But suddenly, one pointed what looked like a syringe at me and told me to hand over my phone or he’d inject me.”

Ann screamed and ran into a nearby chemist, where staff helped her. 

“I was in shock,” she said. “They disappeared before anyone could stop them.”

Peter Otieno, who works for a courier company, said he was attacked along Haile Selassie Avenue while heading to the bus station.

“They surrounded me and one had a bottle with what smelled like sewage,” he said. 

“Another had a knife. I hesitated and they poured the stuff on my coat. The smell was disgusting. I gave them my phone and left my jacket behind.”

Supermarket employee Lucy Achieng’ said she was cornered last week at around 7 pm behind a bus stop near Gill House.

“They were pretending to film each other, dancing and laughing,” she said. “Suddenly, two of them blocked my way and told me to give them everything or they’d ‘make me smell.’ One had a dirty rag and the other kept reaching into a plastic bag. I didn’t wait—I screamed and someone across the street shouted, which scared them off.”

Nairobi chief officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, has acknowledged the growing problem.

“I’ve seen the videos circulating online and received several reports,” he said on Wednesday. “What’s worrying is how these youths disguise themselves as content creators—dancing, filming and blending in with crowds. But by evening, they become aggressive and criminal.”

He added that the gangs often move in groups of 20 to 30 and have been linked to street families operating in the city.

“Some use human waste to extort valuables. This points to not only a security issue but also a sanitation and environmental one,” Mosiria said.

He confirmed that enforcement operations are ongoing.

Instant Analysis

Youth gangs in Nairobi’s CBD are exploiting the guise of content creation to carry out increasingly aggressive street crimes. The combination of poor lighting, lax enforcement and unsanitary conditions is enabling a dangerous pattern.