Three members of the notorious Mombasa Panga Boys gang have been arrested following a security operation led by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
In a statement on Thursday, January 9, DCI said the gang which is known for terrorizing residents in the Kiembeni and Kadzandani areas has been linked to a string of robberies and muggings in the coastal city.
DCI said the arrests of Shaban Munga Ali (26), Sande Kalama Kitsao (24), and Shebani Charo Kalume (34) followed a day-long, intelligence-led operation conducted jointly by DCI Headquarters officers and their Coast region counterparts
“Armed with crude weapons including daggers and machetes, the gang operates with impunity mostly within Kiembeni and Kadzandani areas, staging robberies at business premises and muggings on lone pedestrians,” the DCI stated.
Munga and Kitsao were apprehended at Mwatamba 2 stage in Kiembeni, while Kalume was arrested in Kadzandani.
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At the time of his arrest, Kalume was found in possession of a knife and two face masks, raising suspicions of imminent criminal activity.
The suspects are currently being interrogated and are expected to be arranged in court.
This comes days after police in Likoni is alleged to have fatally shot a 14-year-old boy associated with a local criminal gang.
Likoni Sub-County Police Commander Geoffrey Ruheni confirmed the incident, stating that officers responded to a distress call from residents reporting a robbery in progress.
Ruheni alleged that the 14-year-old, identified as Hamisi Ibrahim, was a member of a juvenile gang that was carrying out the robbery while armed with machetes.
"They proceeded with pangas towards the police officers. The officers had no option but to use their firearms," Ruheni said.
However, according to the deceased's mother, her son had left home to visit his friend before he was shot dead.
“He finished taking tea at my mother’s house and said he wanted to leave to visit his friend while the tailor was working on his uniform. Moments later, we heard a gunshot.
"I’m pained as a parent for my son to lose his life painfully through a headshot. My son was not a thief and I’ve not heard any such allegations against him,” the distraught mother told the media.
