A palpable sense of apprehension hangs in the air as you walk through Ngumba estate, a middle-class neighborhood in Kasarani sub-county, Nairobi.
Just a few days ago, two young men were lynched by an angry mob after being caught breaking into homes in the area. Residents reported that the suspects were ‘toddlers’—likely in their twenties. Armed with a machete and a Taser, the duo allegedly confronted a caretaker of one of the buildings in the Mbinda section shortly after breaking in.
The caretaker raised the alarm, attracting the attention of residents, many of whom had previously fallen victim to a gang that has been robbing homes in the neighborhood. The residents swiftly attacked the suspects and set them on fire.
“We no longer feel secure here in Ngumba. Just last week, these individuals ambushed a woman dropping her child off at school and stole her phone and house keys, threatening to stab her if she resisted,” one resident told Wananchi Reporting.
The suspects were also found in possession of numerous master keys, which residents believe may have been used to gain entry into buildings and individual homes.
Police from Kasarani Police Station later arrived to collect the bodies and transported them to City Mortuary for autopsy.
Ngumba is a small estate situated between Garden City Mall and Kenya Breweries, and it has long been known for its tranquility. However, recent reports of insecurity, muggings, and break-ins have disrupted this peace. Residents suspect that these crimes are being carried out by criminals from the neighboring areas of Baba Dogo and Dandora.
