This archive report was first published on 9 August 2019.
On August 7, 2019, Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata and Regional Police Commander Marcus Ocholla addressed the media at Elungata's Uhuru Na Kazi offices in Mombasa, vowing to deal with juvenile criminal gangs operating in the region.
Elungata warned that child criminal gangs in Kwale and Mombasa counties would be dealt with firmly, and that police had launched a crackdown on machete-wielding gangs causing mayhem in parts of the Kwale-Mombasa border.
Some of the gangs wreaking havoc on residents include Lipa Kwanza, Timboni Mateja, Vijana wa Labour, Vijiweni Boys, Wajukuu wa Bibi, Wakali Kwanza, Wakali Pilipili, Wakali Wao, Wasasi, and Watalia.
Elungata asked parents and chiefs to join hands in sending children to school, citing that basic education was now compulsory and heavily subsidized by the government.
"Instead of these children being in school, they are roaming around attacking innocent people, this is unacceptable," Elungata said.
He also warned local chiefs against permitting night discos, saying the gatherings promote insecurity, drug abuse, and teenage pregnancies.
Coast regional police commander Marcus Ochola denied that a shoot-to-kill order had been issued against the gang members, stating that they would use intelligence to track down and arrest the criminals.
