Police officers stationed at Kondele Police station in Kisumu Central Sub County have arrested a man believed to be the ringleader of a notorious criminal gang that has long terrorized traders and disrupted services at Kibuye Market—one of the busiest commercial hubs in the lakeside city in a well executed nighttime operation.
The security team was made up of specialized technical units from across Kisumu Central acting swiftly and decisively on intelligence to launch a coordinated raid on the night of May 24, 2025.
At approximately 11:22 PM, officers successfully traced and apprehended Collins Idambo Mbalanya, a 34-year-old male of Luhya origin, at the heart of Kibuye Market, Map Reference XQ.977908—roughly 2 kilometers Southeast of the Kondele Police Station.
Police sources describe Mbalanya as the suspected mastermind behind a wave of criminal activities ranging from physical assaults, issuing death threats, malicious damage to property, and creating constant disturbances within the market premises.
These incidents, spanning various dates in 2025, have not only endangered the safety of market traders and customers but have also severely hindered the County Government’s ability to manage sanitation services and collect essential revenue.
According to police reports, Mbalanya will face several serious charges including: Assault and creating disturbance, Threatening to kill, contrary to Section 223 of the Penal Code and also charged with malicious damage to property, contrary to Section 339(1) of the Penal Code.
A second suspect identified as Ronaldo Kevin alias Basenga, aged 28, who was reportedly found armed with a dangerous Somali sword at the scene and could not offer a credible explanation for his presence at the market during curfew hours was also arrested.
An inventory of the dangerous weapon was documented and signed by the suspect. The exhibit has been secured at the Kondele Police Station exhibit store, pending its presentation in court.
Authorities further revealed that the gang, led by Mbalanya and his accomplices, had created a reign of fear within the market.
County officials have been routinely blocked from accessing facilities such as public toilets for cleaning and maintenance purposes, which has posed both hygiene risks and financial losses.
“The County Government of Kisumu has on several occasions expressed frustration over interference with revenue collection and access to market infrastructure. This gang has made enforcement of public order nearly impossible,” a source close to the operation said on condition of anonymity.
Given the potential threats posed by the arrested suspects and the possible retaliation by their accomplices, both individuals were transferred to the Railway Police Station in Kisumu for security reasons.
They are scheduled to be arraigned at the Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court in Winam on Monday, May 26, 2025, at 8:00 AM.
Police have vowed to continue the crackdown, with more operations expected in the coming days to bring other gang members to justice. Residents and traders have been urged to cooperate with security agencies by providing any relevant information that may lead to further arrests.
This high-profile operation comes at a time when concerns over growing insecurity in informal urban trading centers have mounted across Kenya, especially in the wake of ongoing political unrest and rising unemployment.
Analysts warn that if left unchecked, such criminal syndicates could evolve into more organized entities, threatening not just public safety but also local economies.
The arrest of Mbalanya and his co-accused is being viewed as a major breakthrough by security forces and local leaders who have for long decried the deterioration of safety in Kisumu’s trading zones.
Written by John Vincent
