Marwa vows to crack down on gang in Kisauni ahead of festive season

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa (left) and Coast Regional Police Boss Francis Wanjohi (right) during a security meeting at the county commissioner's office on November 17, 2015. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Marwa says the govt has set up a multi-agency team to deal with crime and terror-related incidents in Mombasa County during the festive season.

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa has promised to crack down on a knife-wielding criminal gang known as Wakali Kwanza that has been terrorising beachgoers and residents in Kisauni.

Last week, a volunteer lifeguard at the popular Jomo Kenyatta public beach, Mr Mwishee Mwatophe, said he witnessed several muggings of beach revellers.

In a move intended to reassure visitors at the Coast during the festive season, Mr Marwa said the government has formed a multi-agency team to deal with crime and terror related incidents in Mombasa County.

“We have agreed that we will take stringent actions against those youth who want to terrorise our citizens. Our mission here is to create a climate for business to drive in our region. A criminal is just a criminal regardless of age and so we will deal with those youth accordingly,” Mr Marwa said.

The county commissioner said security measures will be laid down including setting up a call booth at the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach and increasing patrols.

“All critical facilities have been put in place to ensure all areas are secured enough, thus any attempt to cause security threat in this festive season will meet fierce fire,” Mr Marwa told a news conference in his office on Monday.

PLAIN-CLOTHES OFFICERS

Speaking after meeting with Mombasa top security agents, Mr Marwa said plain-clothes officers will be deployed at all merrymaking places to guarantee revellers of peaceful holidays.

Every year, huge numbers of international and local tourists visit the coastal city of Mombasa to celebrate Christmas and usher in the New Year.

The county commissioner added that more traffic police officers will be deployed to ease traffic flow on the Mombasa-Malindi and Mombasa-Nairobi highways as well as at the Likoni channel.