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Criminal gangs are making life unbearable for Kenyans by terrorising communities, disrupting livelihoods and crippling local economies.
To those affected, these are not just gangs but economic saboteurs inflicting immense pain and suffering.
In response, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has pledged a firm but lawful crackdown on the perpetrators.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, he revealed that over 120 suspects have already been arrested in Mombasa as the government steps up its efforts to dismantle criminal networks across the country.
“The police are under firm instructions to rein in criminal gangs, and several hotspots have already been mapped out,” said the Cabinet Secretary, citing Mombasa, Kwale, Nakuru and Kitale as priority areas.
He noted that security agencies are actively pursuing known groups such as Panga Boys, operating in Mombasa and Kwale, Confirm and Wa Tizedi, based in Nakuru City.
“Early this year, as soon as I was appointed, I made a public pronouncement to deal with all criminal gangs from Panga Boys in the Coastal region to Confirm and Wa Tizedi in Nakuru, and others operating in Matungu and Chinkororo in Kisii,” CS Murkomen said.
In Matungu, he said, political actors had attempted to use gangs to stir unrest, but recent security interventions had restored calm. Similarly, in Trans Nzoia, a resurgence in gang activity was linked to local politicians recruiting youth for political violence.
“I want to thank the security teams for rounding up these criminal gangs. A good number of them have also been arrested in Kwale,” Murkomen added.
To sustain the crackdown, the Cabinet Secretary has scheduled security meetings in Mombasa and Kwale next week.
He plans to tour all six counties of the Coast region, where he will engage with security agents, administrative officers, political leaders and residents.
“The government is doing everything possible to ensure the region is fully secure,” he said.
Addressing concerns over tourist safety following a recent incident in Mombasa, the Interior CS clarified that “One tourist was attacked, suffered bruises and lost a phone,” adding that investigations are ongoing.
“We must ensure that proper coordination is followed in future to maintain high security standards for our visitors,” he reiterated
He attributed the incident to a lapse in communication between security teams and port authorities, noting that the visit coincided with Eid celebrations, during which security officers were deployed to other areas.
“In this case, the county security team was not notified that the tourists had left the port,” he said.
Despite the incident, the Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed that the Tourist Police Unit is active and that three cruise ships have docked in Mombasa in the last three months without incident.
