Marwa vows to eliminate gangs

Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa and security agencies in Mombasa County have resolved to end the menace caused by gangs.

Mr Marwa assured Kisauni residents of sufficient support in the fight against the Wakali Kwanza and Wakali Wao gangs.

“We are going to provide all the required support to officers in Kisauni. Our officers are on specific direction, you cannot disturb the peace and be left to walk scot free. Anyone who will be found misusing the youth in the area will face the full force of the law. We cannot have young men aged 15 to 20 years being used to cause chaos,” he warned.

Mr Marwa, who was chairing a county security meeting with top police officers at the Uhuru na Kazi office in Mombasa on Monday, said the police will conduct crackdowns on the criminals’ hideouts.

On Friday, a group of about 15 youths attacked two matatus in Kisauni and robbed passengers, injuring a driver of one of the vehicles.

Police urged the residents to help them by providing names of the youths who are known in the area.

On Saturday, Coast regional police boss Francis Wanjohi blamed some of the parents for harbouring the wayward children and also not offering required parental guidance.

“These youth are aged between 15 to 20 years, the day before they attacked the matatus we had arrested about 50 of them, but we are wondering such small boys who majority are school drop outs can be allowed to roam around the area yet they have parents at their homes,” said Mr Wanjohi.

Last year, Mr Wanjohi had promised to flush out the notorious gangs out of the area by February this year, something that has proved to be difficult.

He said the gangs were among those formed to disrupt peace during elections.

“We do not require these groups to protect elected leaders. Those are militia groups, why are these groups been formed when the election is approaching? What are those groups for? We are going to deal with these fellows head-on.”