As the sun dips behind the dense forests of Mangawani Location in Kwale County, an eerie silence settles over the villages.
By 8pm, doors are bolted, footpaths are empty and families retreat indoors, hoping the night will pass without another attack.
For years, residents of the remote area have lived under the shadow of fear following a series of brutal killings and thefts blamed on a mysterious criminal gang that strikes under the cover of darkness before disappearing into the surrounding forests.
The fear has become part of everyday life across Mangawani and neighbouring villages, where many residents now avoid travelling at night and community activities come to an abrupt halt before sunset.
According to locals, the attackers usually emerge between 8pm and 9pm, ambushing victims walking home from shopping centres or visiting neighbours. Armed mainly with machetes, the assailants reportedly kill swiftly before vanishing without leaving clear traces.
No one appears certain who the attackers are. For 86-year-old Kisilu Mbai, the unanswered questions are as frightening as the attacks themselves.
"It is a wonder that those people who are behind the killings cannot be traced. It is what we have been asking of the government to help us find them, at least we get to know who they are," he says.
Across the 17 villages within Mangawani Location and neighbouring sub-locations, theories abound. Some residents believe the attackers hide inside the thick forests surrounding the settlements, while others suspect they are outsiders who enter the villages only when planning attacks before escaping beyond the reach of security officers.
Rumours have also linked the killings to family feuds, inheritance disputes and long-standing personal grudges, although none of these claims has been independently verified. What worries many residents most is the apparent precision with which victims are selected.
Community members say the attackers seem to possess detailed knowledge of the movements of those they target, fuelling suspicions that someone within the villages could be providing information.
The killings have left behind grieving families still searching for answers. Mr Jacob Mwanzia says his family was devastated after his grandmother was found murdered.
Jacob Mwanzia displays a photo of his grandmother Maria Kiilu who is suspected to have been killed by members of a criminal gang in Kigeleni village in Kwale County.
Photo credit: Kevin Mutai | Nation Media Group
"We really do not understand the motive of the assailants. Their intention is just to kill because I only found the lifeless body of my grandmother," he says.
According to village elders, the violence appears to occur in cycles every few months. During such periods, anxiety spreads rapidly throughout the villages.
Parents forbid children from venturing outside after dark, churches adjust evening programmes and boda boda operators stop working early to avoid becoming targets.
"We are even afraid of going outside. We relieve ourselves in a basin at night because these gangs wait and take time to hunt for their victims before striking. The only thing you realise is just an attack," says Mr Mbai.
Local administrators acknowledge the killings but dispute suggestions that authorities have ignored the problem.
Mangawani Assistant Chief Salim Nzala says his office has documented three killings since December 2025, with investigations pointing largely to family disputes.
"The killings are related to family disputes and most of the cases we have forwarded to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. What is left for us is to ensure there is cooperation. So locals should not complain that the government is asleep because their issues are being addressed," he says.
Mr Nzala adds that investigators have encountered complex disputes involving land ownership and succession, issues that have divided some families for years.
Authorities also say allegations of witchcraft often emerge after attacks, although such claims remain unverified and are not treated as evidence during investigations.
Investigators face another challenge: silence. According to local administrators, not every violent incident is reported.
Some families are reluctant to involve authorities for fear of retaliation or because they wish to resolve disputes privately. Others fear reopening painful family conflicts that have persisted for years.
The lack of information has complicated efforts by detectives to establish clear patterns or identify suspects.
Jacob Mwanzia and his brother-in-law at the gravesite of their grandmother in Kigeleni village in Kwale County on July 23, 2026. The grandmother was killed by suspected members of a criminal gang terrorising the area on December 11, 2025.
Photo credit: Kevin Mutai | Nation Media Group
In response, security agencies have introduced several measures aimed at restoring public confidence. A police post has been established in Mangawani, while patrols have been intensified and regular public meetings organised to encourage residents to volunteer information.
"The government has established a police post and this has led to reduction of the cases," said Mr Nzala.
Despite the interventions, many residents believe security operations need to go further.
They claim similar attacks have also been reported in other parts of Kwale County, raising fears that the suspected criminal gang could be operating across multiple locations while exploiting the area's forests and poor road network to evade arrest.
Beyond the killings, theft has become another source of anxiety. Churches have reportedly suffered repeated break-ins, with thieves making away with public address systems, musical instruments, electrical equipment and offering collections.
Congregations have responded by installing stronger doors, reinforcing windows and organising volunteer night guards.
Ordinary households have also suffered losses. George Okiya recalls waking one morning to discover his motorcycle missing.
"I woke up in the morning and found my motorcycle was missing. I called my employees asking them about it and they told me they thought I had taken it. I then called my pastor, only for him to tell me that the church had also been broken into and several items stolen," he says.
Residents say motorcycles, household electronics, farm equipment and other valuables have disappeared in a series of thefts that have compounded fears already created by the killings.
Boda boda riders now think twice before accepting passengers after dark, particularly along isolated roads.
Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno maintains that the overall security situation across the Coast has improved.
"The crime trend has been on a downward trajectory. During the month of June we had 472 cases of local incidents of crime compared to 499 cases recorded in May, and these are incidents across the entire Coast region," he says.
Police insist investigations into the killings and thefts remain active, with detectives continuing to record witness statements, gather evidence and pursue leads to determine whether the various incidents are connected.
Authorities are urging members of the public to report credible information while avoiding speculation or rumours that could interfere with investigations.
