The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has announced the arrest of 51 more suspects linked to the notorious Panga Boys gang operating in the Kwale and Mombasa counties.
In a statement on Tuesday, DCI reported that the 51 were arrested during the ongoing crackdown being carried out in the coastal region after public uproar from business owners, politicians, and human rights organisations on the concerning rise in criminal gangs.
The latest arrests were made in the neighbourhoods of Corner Ya Kisauni, Jocham Hospital, Barisheba, Sunlight, Mwandoni, Junda, Cobra, and Kadongo Grounds in Kisauni Subcounty.
During the arrest, five tuk-tuks suspected of having been used in the snatching of phones were also confiscated.
The suspects are all currently being held at the Mjambere Police Station, undergoing processing before they can be granted a court appearance.
Just three days ago, DCI reported that 120 members of the notorious gang had been arrested in Diani, Kwale County, following a week-long operation.
Of these, 63 had already been taken to court, while 16 others were set to appear before court on Monday, March 31. The police had requested a 14-day hold on 33 others to allow for further investigations.
Seven machetes, 18 rolls of bhang, and several phones were recovered during these arrests.
The recent crop-up of these gangs that terrorise both residents and business owners in the tourism-rich region has led to several organisations raising the alarm over the matter.
In a disturbing incident on March 22, the gang posed as protestors after the stabbing of a 29-year-old man and seized the opportunity to terrorise business owners and loot their merchandise.
Several residents who resisted were attacked and injured during the altercation. A journalist from a local radio station was also injured.
Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno, on March 25, directed the police to arrest the parents of the mostly juvenile suspects nubbed during this crackdown, although none of that has been reported yet.
HAKI Africa and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) organisations, on the other hand, have called on the police officers to avoid unnecessary excessive force or breaking the law while dealing with juvenile gangs during a joint press briefing on March 26.
