Kisumu Falls to "China" and "American gangs"

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 29 – .
The defunct Bhagdad Boys, a criminal group that left a trail of disasters in Kisumu city and its environs as the country agitated for multi-party democracy has now ushered in two new entrants “China Squad” and “American Marine” with similar ideologies.

For the last two weeks police officers in Kisumu have been battling to dismantle the two groups that had been in existence for quite some time and have been at each others throats causing waves of violence in the area. Many Kisumu residents feels that the bad blood between the two organised criminal groups stems from the fact that a presidential candidate used youths from the China Squad to organise a political rally.

“This war is about money that was given to China Squad members to organise the rally. American Marine members were left out since they are ardent supporters of another presidential candidate,” said Collins Omondi, a city dweller.

There is a strong feeling among the Kisumu residents that millions of shillings have been poured in the region for the purpose of undercutting the political clout and influence of a popular presidential candidate.

Another school of thought points to a supremacy battle for the control of the Kisumu Bus Terminus where most youths from the two groups own stalls that are rented out.

American Marine members for quite some time had been at the helm of the bus terminus controlling stalls being put up until four months ago when China Squad sprouted sparking bloody confrontations.