By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: Members of one of the gangs that have been fighting for control of Dandora dump site, Nairobi have surrendered five guns.

The guns were surrendered to police authorities in Nairobi Thursday in a deal brokered by Senator Mike Sonko. The gunmen said they had been using the weapons in protecting their jurisdictions.

Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue said they were impressed by the move by the gang members, most of whom are street children operating in the area.

“We are impressed by the move by these residents to surrender the weapons,” he said.

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The move came days after a member of  one of the gangs was killed and several others injured in a clash between two gangs fighting to control the site.

The fighting started early Tuesday morning with each of the gangs claiming control of a section of the site.

The groups were armed with crude weapons and police at the site say they heard gunshots from there. The deceased was shot by a rival group. No arrest or recovery has been made even as police moved the body to the mortuary.

Police intervention

Police who moved to the site to quell the violence said they saw some of the group members armed with pistols.

Tension continued to mount on Wednesday and Thursday with locals calling on police to move in and address the menace by arresting armed groups that control the site.

Starehe OCPD Samuel Anampiu said they received reports that the groups were fighting and sent police to quell the violence in vain.

“The police are there to ensure safety and security between the two groups. Unfortunately some of them are armed with crude weapons and guns and a number of them have been injured,” said Anampiu.

The dumping site is among the most feared places in Nairobi because it is controlled by gangs with no police patrols. For one to access the area, he or she has to be accompanied by armed police officers.

For the garbage collecting companies to also dump their waste there, they have to pay a fee to the gangs controlling the areas.