Angola-Msumbiji was formed in the 70s as a criminal gang, by young people mainly from Bunyore, Kisa, Marama, Idakho, Isukha, Butsotso, and Wanga communities in Vihiga and Kakamega districts [of Kenya]. They came together to mainly have a strong gang that would target business people with impunity. They would warn their would-be victims of their intended raid [that] would subsequently be executed without fail and with ruthlessness, especially if the victims had shown signs of resistance. They would go to the extent of seriously maiming people with machetes in the course of their well-calculated incursions.
In the late 70s and 80s, politicians from the western province succumbed to the temptation of using the well-organized goons to unleash terror on their opponents. The gangs would carry out the job according to the "contract" for a fee. They slowly became thugs-for-hire and they would be at the service of the politician who would pay them a good amount to do anything – literally.
Later the local business people and politicians found other uses for them. They would be used to repulse the Kalenjin warriors who would attack the Luhyas during an outbreak of ethnic clashes in the 80's. Both sides suffered heavy casualties as a result of the fierce clashes.
Activities started dying out in the late 80s and early 90s mainly due to police crackdown of the militia group and reluctance of the young people to be conscripted into the gang. At around the same time, some copycat ragtag gangs of thieves managed to create confusion about the real identity of the original group, which demystified them. In peoples' minds the group had disintegrated and a few managed to resist blackmail successfully.
[Until] now, the name "Angola-Msumbiji" is still in use but by a few thugs who still engage in robbing people in the area, albeit in a much lower scale. Some of them are mere petty thieves who just steal to get basic needs (2 Dec. 2002).
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all i can say is that tobacco "wars" were mchezo
