Nine suspects arrested in crackdown on Panga Boys gang in Mswambweni

Nine suspects have been arrested in Msambweni sub-county, Kwale County, in an overnight intelligence-based crackdown on armed criminal gang, Panga Boys.

A multi-agency team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Kenya Police nabbed the suspect on April 4, 2025.

“All the suspects are being processed for further legal action,” Coast Regional Commander Ali Nunow said in a brief on the ongoing operation.

During the operation, officers recovered 11 pangas, five slashers, a hacksaw, knives, 26 sachets of cannabis sativa (50 grammes each), five mobile phones, a pair of scissors, a toy gun, a motorcycle and assorted hats/caps and bandanas suspected to be used for facial concealment.

The arrest came three days after police nabbed 51 suspected members of the Panga Boys gang in Kisauni.

The arrests were carried out in a continued effort to curb criminal gangs in the coastal region.

A multi-agency operation was conducted in Kisauni subcounty, targeting the neighborhoods of Corner Ya Kisauni, Jocham Hospital, Barisheba, Sunlight, Mwandoni, Junda, Cobra and Kadongo grounds.

During the operation, officers recovered five tuk-tuks believed to be used in phone snatching crimes.

It came days after at least 120 suspects linked to the machete-wielding criminal gang were arrested in Kwale county.

The arrest followed an incident where a gang attacked and robbed locals in Diani.

According to police, 63 suspects have already been taken to court, while police have requested 14 more days to hold 33 others under a miscellaneous application to allow for further investigations.

The recent crop-up of these gangs that terrorise both residents and business owners in the tourism-rich region has led to several organisations raising the alarm over the matter.

In a disturbing incident on March 22, the gang posed as protestors after the stabbing of a 29-year-old man and seized the opportunity to terrorise business owners and loot their merchandise.

Several residents who resisted were attacked and injured during the altercation.