By Fridah Mbuvi, June 29, 2026
Police in Homa Bay Town have arrested 40 teenagers suspected of being members of the notorious “Rock Boys” gang following an intensive three-day security operation targeting rising cases of violent crime in the area.
The suspects, aged between 15 and 19 years, were rounded up during coordinated house-to-house operations conducted by officers from Homa Bay Police Station in the Shauri Yako estate, which authorities have identified as the gang’s main base of operations.
The crackdown was launched after a violent robbery that occurred on the night of Thursday, June 25, in Shauri Yako, where gang members allegedly attacked a local woman before brutally assaulting a man who attempted to rescue her.
According to police and local administrators, the woman had been cornered and robbed by members of the gang when a male resident intervened in an attempt to stop the attack. Although the suspects initially fled the scene, they later regrouped, pursued the man and allegedly hacked him multiple times with a machete.
Arujo Location Chief Bob Lang’o said the victim sustained severe injuries and was rushed to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital in critical condition. Due to the seriousness of his injuries, he was later transferred to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu for specialized treatment.
The attack sparked outrage among residents, with members of the public initially organizing their own search for the suspects before police intervened to restore order and launch a formal security operation.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem said the three-day operation targeted hideouts believed to be used by members of the Rock Boys gang, which has been linked to a surge in robberies, muggings, house break-ins, phone snatching and violent assaults across Homa Bay Town over the past six months.
Commander Koilem noted that the gang is made up largely of minors and young people, including one Grade 9 junior secondary school student. He added that some of those arrested are already facing separate criminal charges in court, raising concerns about repeat offending among juvenile suspects.
Police said the operation forms part of a broader strategy to dismantle organized criminal groups operating within the town and restore public confidence in security following a series of violent incidents that have left residents living in fear.
The 40 suspects are expected to be arraigned in court on Monday, June 29, to face charges including robbery with violence and assault.
Commander Koilem warned that security operations in Shauri Yako and surrounding neighbourhoods will continue until all members of the gang are apprehended. He also appealed to residents to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies by providing information that could help identify and arrest other suspects still at large.
Local leaders have welcomed the crackdown, expressing hope that sustained police operations will curb the growing involvement of teenagers in criminal activities while restoring peace and security in Homa Bay Town.
