Mawanga Estate Gang Recruits Witness Tells Court of Descent into Killings

A startling revelation unfolded in the courtroom of Mawanga Estate in Nakuru County, as 28-year-old Evans Kebwaro testified how he was drawn into a gang that carried out the brutal murders of four women in the area three years ago. The witness told the Nakuru High Court how he abandoned construction work in search of better pay only to find himself steeped in violence, rape, arson and theft that culminated in multiple deaths.
During his testimony, Kebwaro described how the gang lured him with promises of substantial income, but that he soon found the reality far darker. He said the tasks escalated from robbery to the killing of women and setting fire to their homes to hide evidence. He specifically admitted his involvement in one of the murders and stated the group’s practice of targeting vulnerable victims at night in the estate. Prosecutors have previously alleged that the murders in Mawanga Estate were carried out by a network of young men who had chosen the area for its relative remoteness and the opportunities it offered for cover.
Responses to the testimony have ranged from shock to outrage among residents of Mawanga Estate and the wider Nakuru North Sub-County. Local community leaders expressed dismay that such organised violence could occur in their neighbourhood, while the families of the victims demanded swift and thorough accountability. Meanwhile, law-enforcement officials say the testimony could help break the gang’s chain of command and lead to arrests of other members. The court appearance has, for many, underscored both the vulnerability of communities and the determined efforts of the justice system.
Looking ahead, the case will likely set a precedent for dealing with gang-linked killings in Kenya’s estates and informal settlements. Prosecutors say they will use the witness’s account to secure convictions of leading suspects, and security agencies are reportedly reviewing patrols and intelligence operations in the region. For the residents of Mawanga Estate, the hope is for a restored sense of safety and community confidence as the trial progresses and authorities work to dismantle the violent networks that once terrorised the area.