A short text message (SMS) to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i by a Mombasa resident has caused panic among police commanders in the region.
According to People Daily, the message was protesting the betting and gaming machines in Likoni.
The gambling machines were banned by the government last year.
“Hi sir, there’s a bar in Likoni, Mombasa that has installed Chinese gambling machines that you destroyed and banned from operating in Kenya.
“Police are seen every day collecting money from the bar owner. Some of these things are the cause of insecurity around Likoni, please take action,” the message read.
Matiang’i forwarded the message to Coast regional coordinator John Elungata and threatened to personally undertake a crackdown on the gaming machines and the officers responsible for the mishap.
The text sent Mombasa security committee into panic leading to an impromptu raid in the area.
20 machines worth Ksh1 million were subsequently confiscated and burned.
Elungata ordered investigations to be carried out on several police officers who allegedly own the machines.
“It has been brought to our attention that there are police officers who own gambling machines, therefore, making the fight against illegal gaming machines futile due to conflict of interests,” he noted.
