Crime rise in Mombasa leaves residents in fear

Police in Mombasa County are grappling with a wave of crime perpetrated by gangs of young criminals which has sent shockwaves among security agencies, politicians and parents.

The gangs, which are sprouting every other day, have become a headache among security agencies, with officers admitting that the problem is getting out of control, especially in the sprawling Kisauni sub-county, Likoni, Changamwe and Mombasa’s Old Town.

So far, about 13 such gangs, whose members are aged between 12 and 18 years, are roaming in Mombasa, most of them in Kisauni.

County Commissioner Maalim Mohamed has named the knife-wielding juvenile criminal gangs as Kapenguria Six, Wajukuu wa Bibi, Young Thugs and Chafu in Likoni, with Majengo Mapya, Mtongwe and Shika Adabu as their hotspot. These are said to be the most notorious in the sub-county.

In Kisauni, residents are terrorised by Wakali Kwanza and Wakali Wao, while Gaza and Spanish Spata gangs operate from Changamwe sub-county.

Others identified as Born to Kill, Vietnam, Akili za Usiku, 64 Gang, Memory Gang, Watalia Gang and Crazy Boys operate freely within the county with Crazy Boys and Mawayu specifically in the Old Town, according to security sources.

The attacks by the two gangs in Old Town where they beat, rob and stab their victims has led to the US embassy sending an advisory to their citizens on June 30, advising them not to visit the area, especially at night.

Members of the gangs are believed to have started off as football players in organised teams within the six constituencies.

Later, however, most dropped out of school and started using drugs. They ended up in crime with some of the gangs being used by politicians to fight their opponents.

Even more shocking is the emergence of a bizarre crime where the young criminals have taken to attacking women and harassing them sexually by fondling and sucking their breasts when they fail to give them money.

HELP OUT POLICE
This has jolted the county’s administrators. Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa confirmed the existence of the weird and strange crime while County Commissioner Maalim Mohamed asked any victim of breast sucking to report to police so that action can be taken.

Acknowledging the sensitivity of such abuse on women, Mr Mohamed advised victims to report to the gender desks at police stations, which are overseen by female officers.

“At Bamburi and Nyali police stations, we have gender desks which handle crime involving women. Therefore, the victims should report the attacks to help our investigators because, as we speak, the Kisauni deputy commissioner’s office has no reports about such attacks on women,” he said, as he asked residents to also volunteer information.

Girls are also forming their own criminal gangs. A girl who confessed to being a member of a gang in Likoni said the group of 10 girls has been attacking women who go to the market early in the morning and those attending weddings at night.

The 14-year-old girl, who came out seeking amnesty, said members of the group called Chafu has been using drugs.

“Our leader is aged 25. We have to smoke bhang first,” said the girl who had gone to Haki Africa, a human rights organisation, to seek help.

The class seven drop-out, who was accompanied by her parents, said the gang members hide along the beach in an area called Magwagwani.

“We would go to a wedding and stay there until late at night. I did not like this and that is why I quit the group. After a successful operation we would go to our hide out which is near Shelly Beach,” she said.

She said her friends convinced her to join the gang. “I don’t want to be in the Likoni area. I know I am a bright girl and I want to go back to school. I want to turn my back to the bad ways,” she added.

Her mother expressed relief and urged parents to steer their children away from crime.

In May, Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba came out for the first time and defended himself against accusations that he was funding criminal gangs in the county.

He challenged anyone with evidence that he was behind the notorious Wakili Kwanza and Wakali Wao gangs to produce it.

Mr Bedzimba said he was not responsible for any gangs in Kisauni and threatened to sue anyone linking him to such groups.

PARENTS BLAMED
He was speaking after Coast Regional Co-ordinator Nelcon Marwa claimed a local politician was funding the gangs.

The County Assembly’s security committee is expected to present a report to the House from their investigations into the attacks.

The matter was debated last week after it was raised by nominated MCA Fatma Mote. She told members that the juvenile criminals pounce on women and demand cash or mobile phones.

And should they fail to produce money or phones, the attackers subdue and undress them.

“Incidents have been reported where women have been attacked by up to 10 boys,” she said.

Deputy Speaker Mswabah Rashid directed the committee to investigate and report its findings. Human rights activist, Ms Topista Juma, an officer in charge of gender and children at Muslim for Human Rights Commission, and his counterpart, Mr Julius Ogogoh of the Commission for Human Rights and Justice, said they had received complaints about the strange crimes.

Ms Yvonne Mwololo, a member of the peace and cohesion committee in Likoni, said: “In Likoni, a gang of five boys armed with pangas and knives pounced on a woman, undressed her and started fondling and sucking her breasts in broad daylight. Luckily people recognised one of them. But when his parents were informed, they denied it.”

The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Organising Secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa accused parents of “sparing the rod and spoiling the child”.

“Parents know who these children are. They open doors for them in the wee hours of the morning and take the money they bring home, including stolen valuables. They should surrender them to the authorities,” he said.

SHOOT TO KILL

Politicians are also now worried about the insecurity and some have cautioned parents that they will not bail out criminals from police cells.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, whose constituency includes Old Town, is among the hardest hit areas. He said he would rather lose his seat than condone a society that harbours criminals.

“We have agreed that nobody should approach us to help release their children if they are arrested for a crime. If you cannot take care of your child, then we will do it for you,” said Mr Nassir.

To tame the gangs, police appear to have changed tack and seem to have silently adopted a “shoot-to-kill” approach.

In two weeks, about five members of the gangs have been gunned down with Mr Marwa saying a multiagency security team will be doing rounds to deal with the gangs.

On Friday alone, two youths said to be members of the Wakali Kwanza were shot dead by police in Soko Mjinga area in Kisauni constituency.

Additional reporting by Gitonga Marete and Mathias Ringa