Goons Raid Mukuru Businesses, Injure 10 and Loot Goods Worth Millions

Anatomy of the Raid

According to multiple eyewitness reports, the assailants were a group of 20 to 30 armed individuals, suspected to be part of a known criminal gang operating along the Nairobi Industrial Area–Pipeline corridor. Armed with metal bars, pangas and crude weapons, the group launched coordinated attacks on several informal retail warehouses, second-hand stalls, and small logistics depots.

One business owner recounted the terror:

“They told us to lie down. Anyone who hesitated was beaten. They emptied our stock and used carts to move it out into nearby alleys,” said James Mwangi, who runs a wholesale electronics store.

The attack lasted for nearly 90 minutes, and though police officers from the nearby Mukuru Police Post were eventually deployed, their response was termed by residents as delayed and ineffective.

Extent of the Damage

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Nairobi Chapter has placed preliminary loss estimates at Ksh 27 million, citing stolen goods ranging from mobile accessories and electronics to household items and fashion stock. Among the affected businesses were:

• 4 wholesale electronics shops

• 3 consignment storage depots

• 6 mitumba stalls

• A micro-finance office that lost computer equipment and records

In addition to the looting, 10 individuals were hospitalized at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, including:

• 2 women with head injuries

• 4 young men with broken limbs

• A 65-year-old watchman who is in critical condition

Security Vacuum and Gang Activity in Mukuru

Mukuru kwa Njenga, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, has long been vulnerable to crime. According to a 2023 report by the National Crime Research Centre, over 43% of residents in Mukuru reported being victims of crime in the previous 12 months — a figure nearly double the Nairobi county average.

Security analysts point to several factors driving rising insecurity in the area:

• Inadequate police patrols, especially after dusk

• High youth unemployment, which fuels gang recruitment

• Weak local leadership and poor coordination between law enforcement and community leaders

• Corruption and alleged gang-police collusion

DCI officers investigating the raid told KBN that the attack bore the hallmarks of a “well-organized local gang operation” and that arrests were expected “soon,” though no suspects had been apprehended at the time of publication.

Economic Consequences for Small Businesses

The aftermath of the raid has left dozens of micro and small business owners facing total collapse. Many operated without insurance or security backup, and the cost of restocking is currently unaffordable for most.

One of the affected traders, 27-year-old Amina Wanjiku, who ran a clothing and cosmetics kiosk, told KBN:

“I started this business after saving for three years. Now I have nothing. Even my till money is gone.”

According to KCB Foundation’s 2024 Micro-Business Survey, at least 76% of micro-businesses in Nairobi’s informal economy operate on daily revenue with little to no savings or formal credit access. This makes them highly susceptible to criminal disruptions.

Law Enforcement Under Scrutiny

Public anger is now turning toward the Nairobi County Police Command. On social media and in press briefings, civil society groups have condemned what they describe as a “systemic failure to protect informal business communities.” Activists from the Social Justice Centres Working Group have called for:

• Immediate deployment of a specialized anti-gang unit in Mukuru and Embakasi South

• A public audit of police performance in crime-prone areas

• Protection and insurance funds for vulnerable traders

Inspector General Japhet Koome has yet to issue a formal statement, though KBN has confirmed that a multi-agency taskforce has been formed to investigate the raid.

History of Similar Attacks

This is not the first large-scale attack targeting Nairobi’s informal businesses in recent years. Similar incidents include:

• December 2023: A gang attack on Kamukunji’s auto spare stalls left 8 injured

• August 2022: Two night raids in Gikomba saw stock worth Ksh 18 million looted and 3 traders killed

• March 2021: A fire (allegedly arson-related) destroyed the Toi Market in Kibra

Repeated incidents have led some informal traders to consider relocating to more secure but costly areas, which affects affordability and consumer access.

Way Forward: What Needs to Change

Security experts argue that Nairobi’s informal economy — which contributes over 20% of county GDP — is being undermined by neglect.

KBN recommends the following interventions:

1. Community policing programs in high-crime zones, managed jointly by residents and police

2. Installation of AI-powered CCTV cameras and lighting in markets and business clusters.
   startup that has embraced the development of smart surveillance.

3. Formalization of business groups, allowing traders to access insurance and legal recourse

4. Youth employment and skills programs as part of crime prevention

5. Transparent incident reporting, with public follow-ups from police leadership

The Mukuru business raid is a wake-up call. Kenya’s urban informal traders — the economic backbone of many neighborhoods — remain exposed, unsupported, and unheard. Without urgent reforms in urban security, coordinated criminal gangs will continue to exploit this vacuum.

As the investigation unfolds, KBN will keep tracking arrests, recovery efforts, and policy shifts aimed at restoring safety and justice to Mukuru’s business community.