Kwale police bosses moved amid crackdown on Panga Boys

Two police commanders in Msambweni, Kwale County were Monday moved following attacks by the criminal gang dubbed Panga Boys.

The two transferred officers are Msambweni Sub-County Police boss Ahmed Hillow and Diani Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Edward Imana.

Police headquarters said new police commanders had been sent to the area with instructions to deal with the menace of the criminal gangs.

This follows new cases where criminal gangs attacked and injured locals before robbing others.

Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno spent the better part of Monday in the area engaging locals on the need to collaborate to fight the gang.

Nuno, in the company of a host of elected leaders from the region, has set in motion a deliberate and purposeful crackdown on young men who have been needlessly attacking and robbing residents of Coastal Towns of Mombasa's Likoni and Kwale's Diani areas particularly.

“This is our problem and we must address it. We can't continue crying of the criminal gang which is known to us,” he said.

He has embarked on a series of events that combine both stiff enforcement of the law and community engagement where he has begun a series of meetings with the elders and youths.

It is hoped to bear fruits while equally ordering all commanders under him to step up onto the plate.

This came as about 100 young boys surrendered to authorities vowing to abandon what they termed as criminal activities.

The group said they lacked jobs which has pushed them to crime.

County government officials promised to absorb some of those who surrendered to sustain them.

On his side, Nuno blamed poor parenting for the trend in the region.

“Spare the rod and spoil the child. Poor parenting has led to all these issues and we must deal with them before it is too late,” he said.

This came after panga welding youth stormed some shops in Diani looting and injuring residents.

The group had come from a burial event in the area where 29-year-old Juma Said had been stabbed to death before starting to attack unsuspecting locals.

Police say they have now deployed more personnel and engaged other apparatus in the area to deal with the menace.

About 25 youths have so far been arrested in operations launched as police hope to tame the trend.

More personnel have been sent to the region to help in the operations.