Mwanee, who had become one of the most recognisable figures associated with the gang, was shot dead by police at Weteithie in Kiambu. After the operation, officers recovered a Ceska pistol bearing registration number A879675, a firearm reportedly belonging to an army officer.
For investigators, the recovery was important because it suggested that the gang had access to weapons taken from security officers. However, there was still one major problem that refused to go away. The AK-47 that had appeared in a widely circulated photograph of Mwanee and his associates was nowhere to be found.
Several of the gang's other suspected leaders had managed to escape the police operation. Among the names that continued to attract attention were Teddy Kasanga, Kimondo, Kush and other associates. Mwanee's death therefore did not immediately bring the Gaza story to an end. Instead, it triggered another phase of the investigation as detectives turned their attention to the men who were believed to have survived the earlier crackdown.
Several of the gang's other suspected leaders had managed to escape the police operation. Among the names that continued to attract attention were Teddy Kasanga, Kimondo, Kush and other associates. Mwanee's death therefore did not immediately bring the Gaza story to an end. Instead, it triggered another phase of the investigation as detectives turned their attention to the men who were believed to have survived the earlier crackdown.
News of Mwanee's death reportedly spread quickly through Kayole and other parts of Nairobi. For people who had followed the gang's activities, his death was a major shock. The man who had been portrayed as one of the most feared members of the group was suddenly gone, leaving the remaining members facing an increasingly aggressive police operation. The atmosphere around the gang was changing rapidly. Ni kubaya. The message from the authorities appeared clear: the people who had escaped were not going to be forgotten.
One of those who remained determined to keep the gang's name alive was Kimondo. Following Mwanee's death, he reportedly mourned his colleague online and declared that he would attend the funeral. The confidence displayed in those messages attracted attention because the police were already searching for wanted suspects. Kimondo was not simply expressing grief; his statements were also interpreted as a sign that the remaining members were still willing to operate despite the pressure surrounding them.
Teddy Kasanga had also emerged as an important figure among the surviving members. He was described as a close associate of Mwanee and was believed to have assumed greater influence after Mwanee's death. In the world of organised criminal groups, the disappearance of one leader can create a struggle for control, but it can also push surviving members to become even more cautious. For the Gaza Gang, the days following Mwanee's death became a mixture of mourning, planning and avoiding the police dragnet.
The gang reportedly planned to attend Mwanee's burial. However, the plan changed after information reached them that undercover police officers were expected to be present at the funeral. Detectives were reportedly prepared to blend into the crowd and identify any wanted gang members who decided to appear. Faced with that possibility, the suspects chose not to take the risk. They stayed away while Mwanee was buried at his family home, leaving detectives among the mourners and relatives who had gathered to pay their respects.
The decision to skip the funeral was another sign of how seriously the surviving members now viewed the police operation. They may have wanted to honour their fallen colleague, but appearing publicly could have exposed them to arrest. Instead, they remained hidden. However, staying underground did not mean the police had abandoned the hunt. Detectives continued gathering intelligence and monitoring the movements of the remaining suspects.
One of those who remained determined to keep the gang's name alive was Kimondo. Following Mwanee's death, he reportedly mourned his colleague online and declared that he would attend the funeral. The confidence displayed in those messages attracted attention because the police were already searching for wanted suspects. Kimondo was not simply expressing grief; his statements were also interpreted as a sign that the remaining members were still willing to operate despite the pressure surrounding them.
Teddy Kasanga had also emerged as an important figure among the surviving members. He was described as a close associate of Mwanee and was believed to have assumed greater influence after Mwanee's death. In the world of organised criminal groups, the disappearance of one leader can create a struggle for control, but it can also push surviving members to become even more cautious. For the Gaza Gang, the days following Mwanee's death became a mixture of mourning, planning and avoiding the police dragnet.
The gang reportedly planned to attend Mwanee's burial. However, the plan changed after information reached them that undercover police officers were expected to be present at the funeral. Detectives were reportedly prepared to blend into the crowd and identify any wanted gang members who decided to appear. Faced with that possibility, the suspects chose not to take the risk. They stayed away while Mwanee was buried at his family home, leaving detectives among the mourners and relatives who had gathered to pay their respects.
The decision to skip the funeral was another sign of how seriously the surviving members now viewed the police operation. They may have wanted to honour their fallen colleague, but appearing publicly could have exposed them to arrest. Instead, they remained hidden. However, staying underground did not mean the police had abandoned the hunt. Detectives continued gathering intelligence and monitoring the movements of the remaining suspects.
The situation became even more tense when the surviving gang members reportedly decided to carry out another operation, this time away from Nairobi. Their destination was Mwea in Kirinyaga County. According to the account, members of the gang were sent towards the area as part of an intended attack, but their movements had already attracted the attention of detectives from the Flying Squad.
The police operation eventually turned into an ambush at Makutano Junction in Kirinyaga. Several suspected gang members were killed during the confrontation, while officers recovered firearms, including a Ceska pistol and homemade guns capable of firing ammunition. Rolls of bhang were also reportedly recovered. Yet even after the operation, investigators still had one unanswered question. Where was the AK-47 that had been stolen earlier?
The missing rifle had become more than just another firearm in the investigation. It was a crucial piece of evidence because it had been associated with the gang from the beginning of the police hunt. Every time detectives recovered other weapons but failed to locate the AK-47, the question remained hanging over the operation. Somewhere, among the remaining members of the gang, the rifle was still believed to be hidden.
The surviving members were now under enormous pressure. Mwanee was dead, their planned appearance at his funeral had failed, and several of their associates had been killed during the operation in Kirinyaga. They disappeared for a period, keeping away from places where detectives could easily identify them. But the gang did not remain silent forever.
On October 28, 2017, around 3 a.m., the situation took another deadly turn. Members of the gang reportedly emerged from hiding and attacked police officers, killing two. During the incident, they allegedly took two firearms belonging to the officers, including a Jericho and a Ceska pistol. The attack demonstrated that despite the losses suffered by the gang, some of its members still had access to weapons and were prepared to use them.
The police operation eventually turned into an ambush at Makutano Junction in Kirinyaga. Several suspected gang members were killed during the confrontation, while officers recovered firearms, including a Ceska pistol and homemade guns capable of firing ammunition. Rolls of bhang were also reportedly recovered. Yet even after the operation, investigators still had one unanswered question. Where was the AK-47 that had been stolen earlier?
The missing rifle had become more than just another firearm in the investigation. It was a crucial piece of evidence because it had been associated with the gang from the beginning of the police hunt. Every time detectives recovered other weapons but failed to locate the AK-47, the question remained hanging over the operation. Somewhere, among the remaining members of the gang, the rifle was still believed to be hidden.
The surviving members were now under enormous pressure. Mwanee was dead, their planned appearance at his funeral had failed, and several of their associates had been killed during the operation in Kirinyaga. They disappeared for a period, keeping away from places where detectives could easily identify them. But the gang did not remain silent forever.
On October 28, 2017, around 3 a.m., the situation took another deadly turn. Members of the gang reportedly emerged from hiding and attacked police officers, killing two. During the incident, they allegedly took two firearms belonging to the officers, including a Jericho and a Ceska pistol. The attack demonstrated that despite the losses suffered by the gang, some of its members still had access to weapons and were prepared to use them.
After the attack, the suspects divided themselves into different groups. One group associated with Teddy Kasanga reportedly moved towards Tala, while another group of three travelled to Kenol in Murang'a County. By then, the gang's original Nairobi base had largely disappeared from the picture. The major suspects were scattered across different locations, making it more difficult for detectives to track them down.
The three suspects who went to Kenol reportedly rented a bedsitter on the fourth floor of a building. The location appeared to offer them an advantage because the height gave them a clear view of the surrounding area. Anyone approaching the building could potentially be seen before reaching the door. The suspects may have believed that such an arrangement would give them enough warning if police came looking for them.
But the detectives were already working on their trail.
The suspects reportedly switched on their mobile phones two days after arriving at the hideout. That decision allegedly gave investigators an opportunity to locate them. Once their whereabouts were established, police began preparing an operation to arrest them.
On the morning of October 30, officers moved towards the building. However, the suspects reportedly spotted the approaching police before the officers could reach the room. What followed was a fierce exchange of gunfire that quickly turned the residential area into a dangerous scene.
Residents were caught in the middle of the confrontation as police and the suspected gang members exchanged fire. The suspects had the advantage of being positioned high above the ground, while officers outside had to find cover as they attempted to contain the situation. For hours, the standoff continued, with the suspects reportedly refusing to surrender.
Kimondo, Kush and Stevo were among the names associated with the group involved in the confrontation. As the situation dragged on, ordinary police officers faced increasing difficulty in bringing the suspects under control. Eventually, specialised officers from the Recce Squad were called in to take over the operation.
The arrival of the specialised unit changed the situation. After being briefed about the building and the position of the suspects, the officers began a more coordinated operation. During the confrontation, Kimondo was shot, while two other suspects reportedly escaped from the bedsitter and moved into a neighbouring house.
The three suspects who went to Kenol reportedly rented a bedsitter on the fourth floor of a building. The location appeared to offer them an advantage because the height gave them a clear view of the surrounding area. Anyone approaching the building could potentially be seen before reaching the door. The suspects may have believed that such an arrangement would give them enough warning if police came looking for them.
But the detectives were already working on their trail.
The suspects reportedly switched on their mobile phones two days after arriving at the hideout. That decision allegedly gave investigators an opportunity to locate them. Once their whereabouts were established, police began preparing an operation to arrest them.
On the morning of October 30, officers moved towards the building. However, the suspects reportedly spotted the approaching police before the officers could reach the room. What followed was a fierce exchange of gunfire that quickly turned the residential area into a dangerous scene.
Residents were caught in the middle of the confrontation as police and the suspected gang members exchanged fire. The suspects had the advantage of being positioned high above the ground, while officers outside had to find cover as they attempted to contain the situation. For hours, the standoff continued, with the suspects reportedly refusing to surrender.
Kimondo, Kush and Stevo were among the names associated with the group involved in the confrontation. As the situation dragged on, ordinary police officers faced increasing difficulty in bringing the suspects under control. Eventually, specialised officers from the Recce Squad were called in to take over the operation.
The arrival of the specialised unit changed the situation. After being briefed about the building and the position of the suspects, the officers began a more coordinated operation. During the confrontation, Kimondo was shot, while two other suspects reportedly escaped from the bedsitter and moved into a neighbouring house.
That escape created another serious complication because people inside the neighbouring house were reportedly taken hostage. The police could no longer treat the situation as a straightforward operation against armed suspects. They also had to consider the safety of innocent residents trapped inside.
The officers divided their responsibilities. One team maintained pressure on the suspects while another worked towards reaching the neighbouring house and rescuing the hostages. The operation required patience because rushing into the building could have placed the civilians in even greater danger.
Eventually, officers moved closer to the house. Smoke was reportedly deployed through a window to disorient the suspects and create an opportunity for the police to enter. The operation then moved into its final stage. Officers managed to gain control of the situation and the confrontation finally came to an end.
When police searched the area, they recovered ammunition and one of the firearms that had allegedly been taken from the slain police officers during the October 28 attack. But the biggest discovery was the weapon investigators had been searching for since the death of Mwanee.
The missing AK-47 had finally been recovered.
For detectives, the discovery represented a major breakthrough. The rifle that had remained at the centre of the investigation had been located, removing one of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding the Gaza Gang. The Kenol operation had also dealt another major blow to the group's leadership.
But one chapter was still unfinished.
Teddy Kasanga and other members who had reportedly escaped towards Tala were still somewhere outside the police net. While the Kenol operation had brought the authorities closer to dismantling the gang, Teddy's disappearance meant the hunt could not yet be declared over.
The Gaza Gang had lost some of its most visible members, weapons had been recovered and several suspects had been killed during police operations. Yet Teddy and the other survivors remained a challenge for investigators. They had already demonstrated their ability to move between hideouts, avoid public appearances and disappear whenever the pressure became too intense.
The officers divided their responsibilities. One team maintained pressure on the suspects while another worked towards reaching the neighbouring house and rescuing the hostages. The operation required patience because rushing into the building could have placed the civilians in even greater danger.
Eventually, officers moved closer to the house. Smoke was reportedly deployed through a window to disorient the suspects and create an opportunity for the police to enter. The operation then moved into its final stage. Officers managed to gain control of the situation and the confrontation finally came to an end.
When police searched the area, they recovered ammunition and one of the firearms that had allegedly been taken from the slain police officers during the October 28 attack. But the biggest discovery was the weapon investigators had been searching for since the death of Mwanee.
The missing AK-47 had finally been recovered.
For detectives, the discovery represented a major breakthrough. The rifle that had remained at the centre of the investigation had been located, removing one of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding the Gaza Gang. The Kenol operation had also dealt another major blow to the group's leadership.
But one chapter was still unfinished.
Teddy Kasanga and other members who had reportedly escaped towards Tala were still somewhere outside the police net. While the Kenol operation had brought the authorities closer to dismantling the gang, Teddy's disappearance meant the hunt could not yet be declared over.
The Gaza Gang had lost some of its most visible members, weapons had been recovered and several suspects had been killed during police operations. Yet Teddy and the other survivors remained a challenge for investigators. They had already demonstrated their ability to move between hideouts, avoid public appearances and disappear whenever the pressure became too intense.
The question now was no longer whether the police were still hunting them. It was whether Teddy Kasanga could remain hidden for much longer.
The trail had moved from Kayole to Kiambu, then to Kirinyaga, Kenol and Tala. Every operation had removed another layer of the gang's network. But somewhere beyond the police dragnet, Teddy and the remaining suspects were still trying to stay one step ahead.
And that is where the next chapter of the Gaza Gang story begins.
The trail had moved from Kayole to Kiambu, then to Kirinyaga, Kenol and Tala. Every operation had removed another layer of the gang's network. But somewhere beyond the police dragnet, Teddy and the remaining suspects were still trying to stay one step ahead.
And that is where the next chapter of the Gaza Gang story begins.
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