Residents of Meru’s remote villages, including Ugoti, Nkiinja, and Tiira, are living in constant fear as a violent gang continues to terrorize the area.
The gang, armed with machetes, bows, and arrows, has been wreaking havoc for over a year, stealing livestock, valuables, and crops.
Their attacks have become more frequent, with the latest assault occurring on March 5, 2025, when they shot and killed 60-year-old Beatrice Kamami while she was walking home.
Kamami was with two other women when the gang ambushed them. One of the women, Veronica Mukiri, was injured, suffering a broken arm during the attack. Mukiri described how the gang emerged from the bushes, attacked her, and shot Kamami at close range as she attempted to protect her companions.
The violence has sparked outrage in the community, with many residents questioning the effectiveness of local law enforcement.
“We live in constant fear,” said one local resident.
“We don’t know who will be the next target, and the authorities seem to do little to protect us.”
According to Giika Location Chief Gervasio Mucheke, the gang is most active during the harvest season when farmers have more money from selling their crops. He confirmed that two suspects are from Tigania East, while the others are believed to be from Marega.
Mucheke vowed that authorities would intensify their efforts to apprehend the criminals, though many in the community are growing impatient with the lack of visible progress.
In addition to targeting homes, the gang has been known to raid miraa (khat) farms, destroying crops and looting produce. In one particularly violent attack in 2024, the gang set fire to a businessman’s home and miraa farm in Kabuitu village, resulting in the loss of property and the life of a security guard.
The growing insecurity has led some residents to take matters into their own hands. Community-driven initiatives, such as the Nyumba Kumi program, have been revived to encourage local surveillance and foster a sense of collective responsibility for security. However, many still feel that the police are either overwhelmed or uninterested in addressing the problem.
With the situation worsening by the day, the people of Meru are calling for more urgent action from both local and national authorities to restore peace to their villages.
The fear that has taken hold of the community is palpable, and residents hope that the government will act quickly to bring an end to the reign of terror that has left them in constant anxiety.
