Marachi Boys: Police link guns used in recent attacks to gang

Police officers in Kakamega have unearthed the source of guns suspected to be used by thieves in terrorising residents of Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and Kakamega counties.

Last week, a businessman in Butere, Kakamega County was attacked by two youths with an AK47 rifle.

The trader's two-month-old daughter was shot dead by the assailants. The man was shot in the arm which later had to be amputated to save his life. 

According to security officials in Kakamega, the gun that was used to rob two businesspeople in Bukura and Sabatia markets in Butere is linked to an outlawed gang in Busia known as ‘Marachi Boys’.

Marachi is a no-go zone in Busia which has given birth to a criminal gang known as ‘Jobless People’.

Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has been at loggerheads with the ‘Jobless People’ who have accused him of abandoning them after they helped him to ascend to power.

The gang has been demanding 50 per cent of revenue collected by the Busia government, something Governor Otuoma has vowed will not happen.

"We will not allow the gang to intimidate people. People must learn to eat from their sweat," Otuoma said.

"We cannot allow people who do not work to survive through threats and intimidation. I want to tell my younger brothers of Marachi that if they used to reap where they did not sow, this time it will not happen," he added.

Kakamega County Police Commander Joseph Kigen told the Nairobian that based on preliminary investigations the guns are owned by Marachi Boys living in Marachi estate in Busia.

"The two incidents that have been reported in Kakamega are isolated cases but we have established that the suspects have been hiring guns from the Marachi Boys in Busia and we want to establish where the guns come from," said Kigen.

The county police boss said the guns have been linked to several theft cases in Vihiga, Busia and Kakamega.

He added that under a multi-agency approach by several security agencies they are planning to raid the border county to nab the gun owners.

"With the porous border it becomes difficult to contain the gang because when we plan to make a raid the suspects run to Uganda and it becomes difficult to arrest them and seize the guns," said Kigen.

"We are going to ensure nothing compromises the security of our people and that is why we are going to seal the porous border and conduct an ambush." 

Kigen said the move is to ensure no suspect runs to Uganda.

"We are yet to establish whether the guns have anything to do with gun business in Uganda," said Kigen.

However Kigen dismissed any claims of high cases of insecurity and return of criminal gangs in Kakamega, stating that the few criminal cases reported are isolated ones.

"We have beefed up security and surveillance so that the few cases being reported should not make residents worry about their security and safety," said Kigen.

Kigen said police had got rid of gangs like Paka Mang’aa and Jeshi Jinga that used to raid homes and steal food during funerals. 

Kigen said investigations showed the attack on the businessman who lost his arm was due to a deal gone sour.