Mbaruk area is located at the border of Nakuru East and Gilgil sub counties of Nakuru along the Nakuru - Nairobi Highway.

Its rural set up makes it a safe haven for criminals who take advantage of poor infrastructure to carry out their illegal activities.

The recent cases involve the murder of three people in a span of two weeks in different Estates of Eshariria, Mubarak and Sugunoi.

The murders were conducted in a similar pattern where the victims were attacked and assaulted to death.

One that caused an uproar was that of a 17-year-old student who was brutally attacked by a group of youth at the Eshariria Centre.

Shuru Kamau a form three student was attacked by some youth in the area on December 30.

His mother Mercy Wambui who was still grieving over his death said her son had left the house on the evening at around 10pm only to return home an hour later when the family had gone to sleep.

" We learnt that he was in pain the following morning after his brother reported to me that he had difficulties breathing over the night," said Ms Wambui.

He was rushed to a nearby clinic where he was referred to the Nakuru Level Five Hospital. This was when Kamau revealed to the doctor that he had been beaten by two youth from his estate who wanted to rob him.

He however succumbed to the injuries while receiving treatment.

Ms Mercy Wambui whose son Shuru Kamau was attacked and killed by youth in Mbaruk

Photo credit: JOSEPH OPENDA| NMG

Postmortem examination revealed that he died as a result of internal injuries.

"It pains me to know that my son was killed by people who are known but no arrest has been made," said Ms Wambui.

James Gikinya the chair of Peace forum in Gilgil attributed the rising insecurity to the surge in drug and substance abuse.

He blamed the local administration for condoning the vice after accusing the area chief of receiving bribes to protect the criminals.

Senior Chief Joseph Mwangi however, defended himself from the allegations which he said were unsubstantiated

"I can confirm that the area is peaceful apart from few incidences. The issue of surge in drug abuse is not true since we wiped out all the brewers. What we are dealing with is cases where people sneak the drugs which we are yet to identify the peddlers," said Mr Mwangi.

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Mbaruk: A Haven of Criminal Activities

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Joseph Openda