Gang activity and organized crime in Kisumu, Kenya

Law enforcement operations in Kisumu, Kenya, have targeted organized gang activity. In August 2026, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations arrested 15 suspected gang members along the Kisumu–Kericho highway. Authorities seized various crude weapons, including machetes, pangas, and knives, following intelligence regarding the group’s movements. One suspect, identified as Oliver Jaoko, also known as ‘Oliveti’, escaped during the operation.

By September 2026, police conducted further intelligence-led operations involving the Administration Police Service and General Service Unit, resulting in the arrest of Franklin Okungu, known as ‘Ninjaman’. Okungu is suspected of being an instructor for a group called ‘American Marines’. During this operation, officers recovered military-style gear, tactical clothing, arrows, and training manuals containing handwritten notes on warfare tactics.

Concurrently, Human Rights Watch has reported a rise in organized gang attacks across Kenya, noting that unidentified armed groups have targeted opposition gatherings and civil society events. The organization stated these incidents have caused at least six deaths and have created a ‘climate of fear’ ahead of the 2027 elections.