According to recent revelations, the four young men who were fatally shot at close range in Nairobi's Buruburu area had a history of criminal activity in both the capital and parts of Kiambu County.

Sources involved in the Christmas Eve shooting investigation told Waza News about the four men's criminal histories, which included burglary, stealing, and robberies.

Investigations have also revealed that the gang has operated as a group of five people.

One of the gang members reportedly narrowly avoided death while traveling upcountry for Christmas festivities.


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The gang members were released from Athi River GK Prison on November 27 before their fatal encounter on Christmas Eve, with preliminary investigations indicating that gang rivalry may have played a role in their deaths.

A police charge sheet identified the pentad as 24-year-old Brian Mwangi Kariuki, 27-year-old Francis Kamau Kamanu, 24-year-old Ben Mwangi Kinyua, 25-year-old Julius Mwikia Mwangi, and 30-year-old John Achoka. They were arrested on April 20 and charged with robbery, stealing, and burglary following a January incident.

According to the police charge sheet, the five allegedly broke into Kencam Pharmaceutical in Athi River on January 7 at around 4 a.m., stealing items worth Ksh.690,000.  


A week later, on January 14, the gang allegedly raided the Taasia neighborhood of Embakasi, where police later recovered a club, an electric key lock, a motorcycle key, a sack, and a matchbox.

According to police, the gang was heavily armed and planned to commit a felony, burglary, and theft.

On the same day, Ben Mwangi Kinyua was allegedly found to possess 6 rolls of bhang worth ksh.300.

Police have also linked the gang to a robbery in Kiambu's Githunguri area in September 2022, in which four people allegedly broke into rental apartments in the area and stole property worth Ksh.113,000 before fleeing in a vehicle, a pattern consistent with their typical method of operation.

Despite the arrests and charges, their case was dropped on November 27 when the complainant did not appear in court.