127 charged in Mombasa crackdown

Senior Mombasa police officers in a meeting with CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro at police headquarters in Mombasa on April 11, 2014. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT

What you need to know:

  • According to the county’s police commander, Mr Robert Kitur, among the 429 suspects, 127 have been charged and 173 freed

Police in Mombasa have arrested 429 suspects since the launch of a crackdown targeting foreigners living in the country illegally.

The county security committee confirmed that those behind bars include Ethiopians, Americans, Burundians and Tanzanians among other immigrants living in Kenya illegally.

EASTER FESTIVITIES

According to the county’s police commander, Mr Robert Kitur, among the 429 suspects, 127 have been charged and 173 freed.

He spoke to journalists after a security meeting at the police headquarters to discuss security arrangements ahead of the Easter festivities during which the region receives many visitors.

Mombasa county commissioner Nelson Marwa revealed that despite efforts by the government to restore peace in Majengo, some individuals were still luring youths in the area to join criminal gangs so as to disrupt peace and order.

Mr Marwa warned two prominent personalities whose identities he declined to reveal that their days were numbered.

He said the government had beefed up security and ordered more patrols to thwart any criminal activity.