Nairobi Commissioner Warns of Gangs Targeting Victims at Roadside Pool Tables

Nairobi Regional Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo has warned that roadside pool tables and informal gambling spots are being used by gangs to target unsuspecting residents.

Speaking in a live interview on Radio Generation on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, Kitiyo said individuals posing as casual players often use these settings to identify potential victims. “If you see a place where there is a pool table outside, be very worried because those guys are playing the pool table and checking out potential targets to mug,” he cautioned. 

He added that similar risks exist around kamari, a street gambling game involving cards or bottle tops, commonly played under trees or in makeshift areas, which he described as frequent covers for criminal networks. Pool and kamari are long-standing features of Kenya’s urban social life, particularly among young people. 

Pool tables are widely available in neighbourhoods as affordable entertainment, while kamari has been associated with informal betting in backstreets and local markets. He noted that police operations are now concentrating on these environments, alongside illicit brew dens that have become gathering points for criminal groups. 

Kitiyo stressed that law enforcement agencies are working to dismantle these networks, describing them as a significant threat to public safety. The Commissioner also commended Kenya’s intelligence services for their role in preventing terrorist attacks, saying the country’s counter-terrorism systems remain effective despite ongoing challenges from organised crime.