Police in Mombasa will firmly deal with weapon-wielding criminal gangs on the prowl across the coastal city terrorising residents and visitors.
The warning comes barely two days after rival criminal gangs fiercely fought on the streets of the tourist resort city using pangas and knives.
Consequently police have banned night weddings, saying such public gatherings have become a target for criminal elements.
The Regional Police Commander, Johnstone Ipara said police will use everything at their disposal to bring to book gangsters responsible for the spate of attacks in Majengo, Likoni and Old Town areas of the seaside city.
The police chief said security agencies will not sit and watch some unruly youth turn the seaside city into a battle field, adding that innocent people usually get caught up in the cross fire of gang violence.
“We are determined to catch the gangsters and bring an end to the culture of gang wars in Mombasa and its environs,” he said.
Iapara called on the public to partner with the police in the fight against crime, noting that the fight against insecurity is not just for the police service.
He said five gang members surrendered to the police at the weekend and that another six are expected to hand themselves in later on Monday.
The Mvita MP, Abdulswamad Nassir expressed concern over the increasing rate of youth restiveness in the region and called on the security agencies to arrest the situation.
The MP urged the police to lift the ban on night weddings as soon as they restore law and order, noting that it was a cultural phenomenon that has existed for decades.
Nassir urged local leaders to help the police in combating crime in the communities and be part of the fight against gangsterism.
Haki Africa Executive Director, Hussein Khalid said the security agencies must tackle the ongoing gang wars.
He said police should use every strategy to disable, dislodge, and weaken the capacity of gangs to operate in different areas of Mombasa.
By Hussein Abdullahi
