Police swoop nets 55 in Mombasa

More than 50 people were on Monday night arrested in a fresh police crackdown in Mombasa County in what the officers say is their quest to eliminate criminals and illegal immigrants.

Mombasa police boss Geoffrey Mayek confirmed they had arrested 55 people most of whom had no identification.

“Yesterday between 10 and 11pm we conducted a swoop within Majengo, King’orani and areas of the Central Business District and arrested 55 people who did not have any form of identification,” he said.

The suspects spent the night at the Makupa Police Station where they were sorted out and police identified 11 of them who did not have any documentation at all.

Among them, four Somalis, one Tanzanian and six others who claimed to be Kenyans.

Mr Mayek said that the 11 would be arraigned in court Tuesday morning to face charges in accordance with the law.

CRACKDOWN TO CONTINUE

He said that the crackdown will continue to ensure that all illegal emigrants are netted.

“Surely we cannot take chance with any person who doesn’t have identification because we do not know their intention.

A good and genuine person will always ensure he or she has proper documents to show who they are, what they do, where they stay and why they are in Kenya,” Mr Mayek said.

He called on all citizens to ensure that they always carry their identification cards or passport to ensure that they do not get into trouble with the law.

On Saturday night, the security agents carried out a similar operation in Changamwe area where 67 people were arrested in a door-to -door crackdown.

However, residents have accused police of harassment with some of those affected by the swoop accusing officers, especially in the Changamwe area, of breaking into their homes and guest rooms in the dead of the night.