Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) and surrounding areas are currently grappling with a significant surge in insecurity, prompting a widespread outcry from citizens across social media platforms. Kenyans have taken to X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram to share harrowing personal stories of daylight muggings, phone snatchings, and physical assaults, creating a palpable sense of vulnerability among residents and commuters.

The nature of these criminal activities has become increasingly brazen. Organised gangs, often comprising 20 to 30 youths, are employing disturbing new tactics. According to Nairobi County Environment CEC Geoffrey Mosiria, these gangs are now carrying human waste and threatening to douse victims unless they surrender their belongings. Furthermore, some criminals are reportedly disguising themselves as content creators filming for social media, a deceptive ploy to disarm unsuspecting targets. Victims report being attacked near police stations, cornered at bus stops, and having valuables like phones, handbags, and side mirrors snatched from vehicles stuck in traffic. Many lament the criminals' ability to operate in groups with little intervention.

Celebrity chef and digital creator Dennis Ombachi, known as The Roaming Chef, has weighed in on the crisis, suggesting that the rise in crime is not random but directly linked to political dynamics. He posits that politically “hired goons,” no longer needed for harassing protestors, have now turned to street crime for