By Perez Karisa, June 23, 2026
North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno has issued a stern warning to security agencies and local administrators, declaring that he will not preside over a town overtaken by juvenile gangs, as Garissa grapples with a sharp rise in violent crime.
Speaking during a high-level performance review meeting with Deputy County Commissioners, chiefs and assistant chiefs, Otieno ordered immediate, round-the-clock security operations aimed at restoring order and cleaning up the streets of Garissa town and its surrounding areas.
The directive comes amid growing public anger over a surge in brutal attacks that have left residents deeply unsettled and prompted calls for urgent government intervention.
The most recent outrage was triggered by the killing of Hillary Ochieng, a newly graduated lecturer at Garissa Teachers Training College, who was fatally stabbed by suspected gang members in the Bulla Mzuri area. His death sparked protests in parts of the town, with residents demanding swift action and tighter security enforcement.
Tension in the region was further heightened by the killing of Osman Aweis, a visiting American citizen of Somali origin, who was attacked by armed assailants in what authorities believe was a robbery targeting his mobile phone. He was stabbed in the thigh and later bled to death by the roadside, further fueling concerns over rising insecurity targeting both locals and foreigners.
Local police logs indicate that at least ten people have been stabbed or violently robbed within a span of five days, with reports showing that teenage gangs armed with knives, daggers and pangas have been operating openly in broad daylight across parts of Garissa town.
Otieno expressed concern over what he termed the growing boldness of criminal groups, questioning how gangs were managing to terrorize residents despite a visible presence of security officers in the area. He warned that the situation could not be allowed to continue unchecked.
In his directives, the Regional Commissioner ordered chiefs and assistant chiefs to immediately begin profiling suspected gang members within their respective villages and submit names to security committees for coordinated action. He further instructed all administrative officers to leave their offices and increase their presence on the ground, saying visibility was critical in deterring crime and preventing youth recruitment into criminal networks.
“We cannot preside over a situation where gangs control our towns. Security must be restored immediately and decisively,” Otieno said during the meeting.
He emphasized that security operations would now run continuously, combining efforts from police units, intelligence officers and local administration officials in an effort to dismantle emerging youth gangs.
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama supported the crackdown, noting that insecurity has severely disrupted economic activity in the county and stalled plans to establish a 24-hour economy to boost trade and investment.
Jama said fear of attacks after dark has forced many businesses to scale down operations, undermining economic growth and limiting opportunities for residents.
To address rising youth unemployment, the county government announced plans to recruit 200 revenue clerks and expand access to business grants through the County Revolving Fund, aimed at reducing vulnerability to gang recruitment.
In addition, religious leaders have been enlisted in the anti-crime campaign, with Sheikhs and Ulamas expected to use Friday sermons to condemn crime, drug abuse and youth radicalization across mosques in the region.
Security agencies have pledged sustained operations in Garissa as authorities move to restore calm and reassure residents following weeks of escalating violence that has shaken public confidence in safety and order.
