Justina Wamae: Nairobi’s teen gangs are mirroring deadly global trends
By Kiprono Keileb, August 29, 2025Former Roots Party deputy presidential candidate Justina Wamae has weighed in on the rising wave of juvenile gangs in Nairobi, warning that the city is walking a dangerous path that mirrors violent global patterns.
Her remarks come after reports linked gangs in Umoja to the killing of 15-year-old Joshua Kubiti, sparking renewed public concern about the safety of young people and the failure of society to curb gang violence.
“This reminds me of Jamaica’s Gaza vs Gully feud”, Wamae said, drawing parallels between Nairobi’s juvenile gangs and Jamaica’s infamous Gaza vs Gully feud.
“The rise of these gangs reminds me of the societal divide occasioned by the Gaza vs Gully feud back in Jamaica. Something that started as a battle of music performance led to loss of life,” she stated on her X post dated Friday, August 29, 2025.
Her analogy struck a chord with many Kenyans who see the escalating crime in Umoja and Eastlands as more than isolated incidents, a warning sign of a larger societal crisis.
Parenting under the spotlight
Beyond the violence, Wamae pointed to the role of parenting in shaping the future of children. She argued that while millennials often accuse their parents of being toxic and strict, intentional parenting might be the missing link in addressing the gang menace.
“I think since the majority of the millennials feel that their parents were toxic, that is what parenting today should look like. It’s about time we go back to good old intentional parenting,” she stated.
She further backed a sentiment shared by social commentator Saigonpunisher James, who has called out absentee parenting:
“Kazi yao si kulindia wazazi watoto!”, Wama quoted a remark by James, a view she said she fully agreed with.
Economic pressures and the future
While calling for stronger parenting, Wamae also acknowledged the economic realities many families face, which often leave parents with little time or energy to focus on their children.
“How do we make it happen with the economic pressures we face?” she asked, urging society to start a serious conversation on balancing survival with parenting.
As Nairobi mourns the death of Joshua Kubiti, Wamae’s remarks highlight a sobering reality: if left unchecked, Nairobi’s teen gangs could grow into a national crisis, with echoes of violent trends from around the world.