Abstract:
This study examined the social, economic, and political factors influencing the formation
of youth gang groups, with a particular focus on the Wadudu Gang in Arusha City Council,
Tanzania. The research problem addressed the increasing emergence of youth collectives
within urban settings, exploring whether such formations are merely deviant responses or
adaptive, creative expressions of social and economic resilience. A qualitative research
design was employed, utilizing interviews and focus group discussions to collect data
from youth gang members, community leaders, parents, and local government officials.
Data were analyzed thematically through coding and pattern identification, ensuring
credibility, dependability, and confirmability. The findings revealed that social factors
such as family breakdown, weak parental guidance, peer influence, and lack of mentorship
significantly shaped youth organization. Economic challenges, including unemployment,
poverty, and inadequate empowerment programs, pushed youth toward informal networks
for survival and recognition. Politically, limited youth participation in governance and
inconsistent institutional support fostered alienation but also encouraged the creation of
self-organized civic spaces like the Wadudu Gang. The study concludes that the Wadudu
Gang represents a non-violent, creative adaptation to social and institutional exclusion
rather than a purely criminal entity. It recommends strengthening mentorship programs,
expanding youth empowerment initiatives, and fostering inclusive political engagement.
Policymakers and community leaders are urged to integrate creative youth groups into
formal development strategies through structured support systems, training, and
participatory governance frameworks. Overall, the research contributes to understanding
youth formations as hybrid socio-cultural movements reflecting resilience, innovation,
and civic potential within Tanzania’s urban youth landscape.
