By Sargajan bin Kadii in Nairobi
August 13, 2013
Members of two rival gangs that have intimidated residents and
Somali-owned businesses in Nairobi's Eastleigh neighbourhood for the
past three years are on the run after a security crackdown, area
officials say.
The two gangs, known as Superpower and Sitaki Kujua (SK) -- which
means "I do not want to know" in Swahili -- consist mainly of Somalis.
"We have already arrested more than 500 members of these gangs," said Ndumba Thangalani, district criminal investigation officer for Starehe, under which Eastleigh falls.
At the end of July, a police operation netted 51 gang members, most of whom were charged in court and released after paying a cash bail of one million shillings ($11,400) each, he told Sabahi. Those who were not able to pay were remanded and are awaiting trial.
"The fact that very few cases were reported [to the police during] Ramadan is a sign that we are winning the war against the Superpower and SK," Thangalani said.
Some of the gang members who were arrested since the end of 2012 subsequently posted bail and failed to show up to their court dates, but authorities have issued warrants for their arrest, he said.
In Superpower's early days, some Somali businessmen and politicians used the gang as a vigilante group to protect their interests in Eastleigh. By the end of 2011, the tycoons withdrew their support for fear of being accused of funding terror groups, he said.
Not pleased with the withdrawal of support, the gang was said to have embarked on a revenge mission against Somali businesses.
"Sitaki Kujua was formed by Kenyan-born Somali youth in a bid to counter the flamboyant Superpower," Ngugi told Sabahi. "They were trying to tell Superpower that 'although you have money, we do not care.'"
Gang members range in age from 14 to 26 and they sport hairstyles that identify them as gang members, he said. For weapons, both gangs use metal pipes, knives, pistols, grenades and machetes.
Most attacks by gangs take place at dawn and dusk when worshippers are going to the mosque for prayers, Ngugi said.
This, Ngugi says, hinders the war against the gangs because maslah penalties are a weak deterrent.
"We have been sending emissaries to the mosques and conducting civic education to ensure people report cases of crime to the police rather than the maslah elders," Ngugi said.
The two rival gangs came close to uniting in December 2012, according to Ngugi, when members of other ethnic groups rioted and attacked Somali businesses, amid accusations that Somalis were harbouring terrorists alleged to have carried out a series of grenade attacks in Eastleigh.
"They united in defending Somali interests in the several days that the riots lasted, but after that they went back to their territorial wars," he said.
Eastleigh Community Association representative Hussein Haji, however, says the police should not blame their own incompetence on the community. Instead, they should come up with new ways to take down these dangerous gangs.
"Elders and business people have held meetings where they have decided to work with the police in fighting the dreaded gangs," Haji told Sabahi. "However, the police should also step up efforts and come with new tactics of fighting crime in our neighbourhood."
So far, police say, there is no evidence to link the two gangs to terror groups.
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A youth of non-Somali ethnicity armed with stones prepares for confrontation on November 19, 2012 during the retaliatory clashes against ethnic Somalis that occurred in Eastleigh after a bomb explosion blamed on al-Shabaab killed and wounded several people. During the clashes, rival Somali gangs joined forces to protect Somali interests. [Tony Karumba/AFP]
![A youth of non-Somali ethnicity armed with stones prepares for confrontation on November 19, 2012 during the retaliatory clashes against ethnic Somalis that occurred in Eastleigh after a bomb explosion blamed on al-Shabaab killed and wounded several people. During the clashes, rival Somali gangs joined forces to protect Somali interests. [Tony Karumba/AFP]](http://sabahionline.com/shared/images/2013/08/13/kenya-eastleigh-unrest.jpg)
"We have already arrested more than 500 members of these gangs," said Ndumba Thangalani, district criminal investigation officer for Starehe, under which Eastleigh falls.
At the end of July, a police operation netted 51 gang members, most of whom were charged in court and released after paying a cash bail of one million shillings ($11,400) each, he told Sabahi. Those who were not able to pay were remanded and are awaiting trial.
"The fact that very few cases were reported [to the police during] Ramadan is a sign that we are winning the war against the Superpower and SK," Thangalani said.
Some of the gang members who were arrested since the end of 2012 subsequently posted bail and failed to show up to their court dates, but authorities have issued warrants for their arrest, he said.
Gang origins, characteristics
"Superpower was formed by Somalis who were deported from Europe and America and came to the country to live with relatives," Eastleigh North Ward Senior Chief Paul Ngugi said. "With their cost of living catered for by money from their parents abroad, they do not work and most of their time is spent between watching movies, eating and going to the mosque."In Superpower's early days, some Somali businessmen and politicians used the gang as a vigilante group to protect their interests in Eastleigh. By the end of 2011, the tycoons withdrew their support for fear of being accused of funding terror groups, he said.
Not pleased with the withdrawal of support, the gang was said to have embarked on a revenge mission against Somali businesses.
"Sitaki Kujua was formed by Kenyan-born Somali youth in a bid to counter the flamboyant Superpower," Ngugi told Sabahi. "They were trying to tell Superpower that 'although you have money, we do not care.'"
Gang members range in age from 14 to 26 and they sport hairstyles that identify them as gang members, he said. For weapons, both gangs use metal pipes, knives, pistols, grenades and machetes.
Most attacks by gangs take place at dawn and dusk when worshippers are going to the mosque for prayers, Ngugi said.
Engaging the Somali community
"One of the problems that police officers face in fighting these criminals is identifying suspects, since Somalis are very protective of each other and most are unwilling to report the criminal elements in their midst," Thangalani said. "Most strongly believe in maslah, a communal arbitration system where elders impose fines on suspects, as opposed to reporting them to the police."This, Ngugi says, hinders the war against the gangs because maslah penalties are a weak deterrent.
"We have been sending emissaries to the mosques and conducting civic education to ensure people report cases of crime to the police rather than the maslah elders," Ngugi said.
The two rival gangs came close to uniting in December 2012, according to Ngugi, when members of other ethnic groups rioted and attacked Somali businesses, amid accusations that Somalis were harbouring terrorists alleged to have carried out a series of grenade attacks in Eastleigh.
"They united in defending Somali interests in the several days that the riots lasted, but after that they went back to their territorial wars," he said.
Eastleigh Community Association representative Hussein Haji, however, says the police should not blame their own incompetence on the community. Instead, they should come up with new ways to take down these dangerous gangs.
"Elders and business people have held meetings where they have decided to work with the police in fighting the dreaded gangs," Haji told Sabahi. "However, the police should also step up efforts and come with new tactics of fighting crime in our neighbourhood."
So far, police say, there is no evidence to link the two gangs to terror groups.
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