Residents of Leisure in Nyali Sub-county, Mombasa are living in fear following a spike in violent robberies, which they say continue unchecked despite the presence of a nearby police post.
Locals say a criminal gang, often riding on motorbikes, has been terrorising both residents and passersby in the area stretching from VOK to the Freere Town junction, sometimes even in broad daylight.
Mr Mohammed Heiber, a resident, described the situation as dire, accusing police of inaction even after multiple reports were lodged.
“Not a day goes by without someone being attacked here. Some of the thugs ride on boda bodas in groups of three. When they spot a target, two of them alight, rob the victim, then hop back on the motorbike and vanish,” He told Nation on Saturday, after residents rescued a woman who had been attacked while leaving a salon.
The most recent incident occurred earlier this week, he said, marking the third attack in just five days. Last week, Mr Heiber and a group of residents attempted to apprehend a suspected robber but were violently ambushed by a group of men wielding pangas, believed to be members of the same gang.
“It was in broad daylight. Locals had to take cover inside shops while others fled. The situation is out of hand,” he said.
The criminal gang’s boldness has grown, with some incidents occurring as early as 2pm. Parents are now escorting their children to and from school, shopkeepers are closing earlier than usual, and some residents say they are considering relocating.
“It doesn’t make sense to have a police post here when people are getting attacked in the open. We need more patrols, and we need them now,” said Mr John Kamu, a shopkeeper in the area.
Nyali Sub-county Police Commander Moses Kirong acknowledged the spike in crime but assured the public that patrols and surveillance have been intensified across the area. Mr Kirong said that since Wednesday last week, police have been conducting operations throughout the area.
As a result, 32 suspects were arrested on Friday and another 28 on Saturday. He noted that the operations are ongoing.
“Most of those arrested are boys aged between 15 and 22 years,” he said, urging local residents to cooperate with the police by providing information about youth involved in criminal activities.
Mr Kirong also appealed to parents to enroll their children in vocational training programs, emphasising the importance of equipping young people with skills that can help them earn a living and steer clear of crime.
Local administrators are now being urged to convene community policing forums and work with law enforcement agencies to curb the rising crime.
In 2021, the government introduced measures to regulate the boda boda sector nationwide, including registration and vetting of operators, but implementation has remained patchy in many parts of the country.
As the attacks persist, residents of Leisure in Nyali are demanding urgent intervention before the situation spirals further out of control.
