The Effects of Organized Criminal Gangs on the Livelihoods of the Urban Residents: a Case Study of Gaza Gang in Kayole Estate, Nairobi

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of organized criminal gangs on everyday lives of residents of Kayole estate. The specific objective of this study were; to establish the motivating factors that compel youth to join the criminal gang, to determine the effects of the organized criminal gang on the everyday lives the residents of Kayole estate, to find out how the gang recruits and maintain its membership and to establish the avenues through which the gang generate money to finance its activities.The research design used in this study was descriptive survey method, This design involved triangulation where by the qualitative and quantitative data collected was checked for validity by observing the shortcomings and success of each method. The target population was adult family members (both male and female). They consisted of victims both affected directly and indirectly. Other respondents were business people, government officers and civil society. The quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to analyse the data. The study findings showed that there were fear of criminal gangs by Kayole residents, residents and business people. Business people closed their businesses earlier than usual and there were some places where residents avoid security officers were also overwhelmed to deal with the gangs due to few number of police officers in the area. The study also revealed that many people know the gang members and that most of them are young educated secondary school leavers. Collusion between police and gang members exists in Kayole. In addition, many other gangs exist besides Gaza. The study concluded that there were inadequate police officers to deal with the threat caused by criminal gangs in the area, parents and residents were not willing to give the detailed of members of criminal gangs even if they were aware of them and no one was ready to be a witness in court in a case where any member of criminal gang had been arrested, for fear of victimization. The study recommend that: The county government and police used to regulate and monitor places/venues where youth meet; there is need for government to develop programs for youth to gain skills; need for more police officers in Kayole and families need to play their role over guidance of children.