Murkomen attributes Reggae Boys, Nduthi Culture gangs to rising insecurity in Vihiga
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 6, 2025Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has warned that youth gangs in Vihiga County are becoming a serious security challenge.
Speaking during the 37th Jukwaa la Usalama town hall meeting at the County Commissioner’s residence grounds, Murkomen said groups such as the Reggae Boys and the Nduthi Culture, once formed for social and economic reasons, are now evolving into dangerous gangs.
“The problem of gangs and goons is not as bad as the three other counties but it is there. We have, as you know, in this county you have some groups calling themselves Reggae boys and the other group that calls itself Nduthi culture,” he said.
“The original intention was to establish some, you know, social groupings related to the economic activities these young people are involved in. Now it is turning out to become a kind of a security threat because it’s morphing up to become gangs like the other gangs which are in the neighboring counties,” Murkomen told residents.
He noted that similar outfits, including the 42 Brothers, 47 Brothers and 18 Brothers, have already spread across the wider Western region.
Murkomen stressed that unlike other parts of the country, where gangs mainly operate in urban centres, in Western Kenya they are spreading to villages. This, he said, makes the threat more complex because the gangs are embedding themselves in the community. He added that security discussions should go beyond immediate action and focus on long-term solutions to protect the future of the region.
Police boost, public courage
As part of the government’s response, Murkomen announced that more police officers would be deployed to Vihiga and the wider Western region. These officers will conduct operations to flush out gangs and restore peace.
The CS also urged locals to be courageous and speak openly against the gangs. He admitted that many people, including chiefs, avoid naming them out of fear of reprisals.
“You realise people, some chiefs were saying really, very few people are courageous enough to speak publicly about gangs because they fear being in courts visited and attacked,” he emphasised.
Murkomen cited recent attacks, including the assault of a watchman in the area, as proof that the gangs are also engaging in robbery. He assured residents that the government is determined to protect them, but called for community cooperation.