DCI Seize 5 TukTuks In Crackdown On 'Panga Boys' Gang
The operation targeted crime-prone areas, including Corner Ya Kisauni, Jocham Hospital, Barisheba, Sunlight, Mwandoni, Junda, Cobra, and Kadongo Grounds.
Marvin Chege 
In a major crackdown on criminal gangs, a multi-agency security operation in Kisauni sub-county has led to the arrest of 51 suspects linked to the notorious Panga Boys gang operating in Kwale and Mombasa counties
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reported on Tuesday, April 1, that the 51 suspects were apprehended as part of an ongoing crackdown in the coastal region, following public outcry from business owners, politicians, and human rights organizations over the alarming increase in criminal gang activities.
The operation targeted crime-prone areas, including Corner Ya Kisauni, Jocham Hospital, Barisheba, Sunlight, Mwandoni, Junda, Cobra, and Kadongo Grounds.
In the course of the arrests, five tuk-tuks suspected to have been used in phone-snatching incidents were seized.
Some of the 51 suspects arrested during a multi-agency operation targeting the 'Panga Boys' gang. /DCI
"In a continued effort to curb criminal gangs, a multi-agency operation has been conducted in Kisauni sub-county, targeting the neighborhoods of Corner Ya Kisauni, Jocham Hospital, Barisheba, Sunlight, Mwandoni, Junda, Cobra, and Kadongo Grounds, resulting in the arrest of 51 suspects linked to the infamous Panga boys gang," stated DCI in part.
Adding "Five tuk-tuks, believed to be used in phone snatching, were seized in the course of the operation."
The suspects are currently being held at Mjambere Police Station, where they are undergoing processing before their scheduled court appearance.
Security agencies have vowed to intensify operations to dismantle criminal networks in the region. Just three days ago, the DCI announced the arrest of 120 members of a notorious gang in Diani, Kwale County, following a week-long security operation.
Out of those arrested, 63 had already been arraigned, while 16 others were scheduled to appear in court on Monday, March 31. Police also sought a 14-day detention order for 33 suspects to allow for further investigations.
During the arrests, authorities recovered seven machetes, 18 rolls of bhang, and several mobile phones. The resurgence of criminal gangs terrorizing both residents and business owners in the tourism-dependent region has raised alarm among various organizations.
In a shocking incident on March 22, gang members disguised themselves as protesters following the fatal stabbing of a 29-year-old man. They used the chaos to loot businesses and attack shop owners. Several residents who resisted were injured, including a journalist from a local radio station.
On March 25, Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno ordered the arrest of parents of the mostly juvenile suspects apprehended in the crackdown, though no such arrests have been reported yet.
Meanwhile, human rights groups HAKI Africa and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) have urged law enforcement officers to avoid excessive force and uphold the law while dealing with juvenile offenders, emphasizing the need for due process during a joint press briefing on March 26.
