Jeshi Jinga crackdown: 13 arrested as police hunt down Mumias’ most feared gang

Residents of Mumias can finally breathe a sigh of relief after police launched a decisive sting operation aimed at dismantling the notorious ‘Jeshi Jinga’ gang, a criminal outfit that has held the community in a terrifying grip.

For too long, this ruthless group has been responsible for a horrifying trail of deaths, relentless theft, and an atmosphere of constant fear, turning peaceful neighbourhoods into zones of terror.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Mumias East OCPD Dorice Chemoss confirmed to the press that police had arrested 13 members of the gang following an extensive sting operation aimed at recovering stolen cattle and apprehending those behind the deadly wave of crime in the region.

Speaking from Shianda Police Station in Mumias East Subcounty, Chemoss revealed that the operation, which started on Sunday, had led to the recovery of 13 stolen cows and the capture of several notorious gang members.

“Tumekua na operation maliza wizi wa ng’ombe kuanzia jumapili, jana jumatatu na ata leo tumekua tunaendelea na hio oparesheni,” Chemoss said. “Na katika hio oparesheni tumeweza kupata watu tatu – wezi wa ng’ombe na tukarecover ng’ombe kumi na tatu. Kwa hii shuguli ambayo tunaifanya kuna vijana ambao wamekua wabaya sana. Hapa kwangu kwangu wanajiita ‘Jeshi Jinga’,” she added.

The police chief explained that Jeshi Jinga had been terrorising the area for months, with their most recent crimes involving cattle theft and violent acts under the guise of police officers.

“Vijana tatu wako na sera rasmi ya polisi ambayo wakifanya hio oparesheni yao usiku utafikiria ni polisi na kumbe sio sisi ni wakora,” Chemoss explained, referring to the gang’s tactic of impersonating law enforcement to carry out their violent operations.

Since its emergence, Jeshi Jinga had become synonymous with brutal acts of violence.

In mid-2024, the gang was involved in the killings of four people and left at least 20 others injured in Mumias.

The most chilling of these crimes occurred on July 28, 2024, when two blood brothers, Foreman Sabwonji and Fredrick Nangoye, were gruesomely murdered by the gang.

The brutal murders and the subsequent injuries sparked outrage across the country, with local politicians and activists decrying the government’s failure to address the growing insecurity in the area.

During the burial of the slain brothers on August 10, 2024, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale called for the transfer of police officers stationed in the region, citing their failure to curb the escalating violence.

Fredrick Nangoye’s widow, Anne Juma, bravely recounted the horrific brutality her husband endured at the hands of the gang.

“Yale nilipata kwa mume wangu sikuamini, nilipata wamegawagawa hio kichwa vipande karibu nne. Nilimuangalia huwezi mjua, alikua sura ingine tofauti. Hao watu walichukua kama kama dakika tano kufanya hio kazi,” Anne Juma recounted as she relived the horrifying details of her husband’s murder.

The police’s ongoing operation in Mumias East is seen as a significant breakthrough in tackling the growing menace of gangs like Jeshi Jinga.

Chemoss issued a stern warning to members of the gang, stating that the authorities would not rest until they were all brought to justice.

“Bado tunaendelea na oparesheni wa wizi wa ng’ombe na oparesheni ya Jeshi Jinga. Kama unajijua yakwamba wewe ni baadi ya wale munaiba ng’ombe jua yakwamba tuko nyuma na vijana Jeshi Jinga, wazazi kama uko na vijana kama hao jua yakwamba tuko na wao,” Chemoss warned, urging both gang members and their families to abandon the criminal path.

Residents in Mumias East and surrounding areas have welcomed the police’s decisive action, hoping that this operation will signal the end of a long reign of terror.

However, local leaders continue to push for more comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of all citizens, urging authorities to intensify efforts to dismantle gangs and curb violence.