The dreaded Mombasa gangs are gradually creeping back.
The ruthless criminals, whose reign of terror security agencies in the port city have linked to drugs, are mainly in their late teens and early 20s.
One of the gang leaders is, however, said to be only 13.
The gangs, which include Chafu and Wajukuu wa Bibi, have been terrorising residents of Kasauni, Likoni and the affluent Nyali.
Some of the gangs are headed by notorious jailbirds who are wanted for multiple crimes in the coastal town.
They attack people in broad daylight with knives and other crude weapons. The situation, security agencies warn, could be spiralling out of control.
In the past two days alone, detectives have arrested six suspects in the Mombasa Central Business District and the affluent Nyali suburb.
The suspects include a 21-year-old man who police have been pursuing over several cases of robbery with violence in Mombasa. He was apprehended by Likoni-based Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers within the precincts of the Mombasa Law Courts.
The suspect is to be arraigned in court to answer to various charges of robbery with violence, reported vide O/B numbers 26/02/11/2021, 17/16/11/2021, 17/17/11/2021.
Also in custody are five teenagers who were arrested in connection with a series of robberies in the affluent Nyali suburb.
Police said the suspects would be charged with various offences, ranging from robbery, stealing and assault.
There had been a one-year lull in criminal activities in Mombasa, presumably due to the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.
They are now returning just weeks to the festive season, and at a time the coastal city was economically upbeat, with hotels enjoying 80 to 90 per cent bed occupancy and eyeing more bookings after the Covid-19 containment measures were lifted in October.
The main headache for the authorities is how to secure the thousands of domestic and international visitors flocking the port town.
Likoni, Kisauni and Nyali have been mapped up as the most insecure sub-counties in the tourism hub, as Mvita, Jomvu and Changamwe enjoy peace and tranquillity.
Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata said drugs were behind the return of the gangs, but gave an assurance that the state was dealing with the insecurity and drug abuse challenge.
“We should take the lead in warning our children about the dangers of abusing drugs. We recently charged a suspect in a case of cocaine worth Sh30 million. We are not giving up,” said Mr Elungata.
Mr Elungata, who is the Coast security committee chairman, further urged principals and head teachers to help in the fight against drugs. “Who carries drugs to school? Who is selling the stuff to them? Teachers should share this information with me for action,” he added.
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko and her Changamwe counterpart Omar Mwinyi urged the state to ruthlessly deal with traffickers roaming the port city.
In Likoni and Kisauni, minors abuse drugs in public and start stabbing people using crude weapons.
“We have a notorious gang by the name Chafu which is led by a 13-year-old. How can a child be a gang leader? Parents, let's cooperate with security operators to deal with wayward minors. Let’s inform security agencies about criminals in our midst,” she said.
“Is it that the government lacks personnel or capacity to deal with drug trafficking, traffickers and abusers? Very young children are abusing drugs openly. The old guard are now undercover after recruiting new traffickers,” she added.
Kisauni sub-county has recorded the highest number of criminal cases, with people being attacked in the streets and their valuables stolen.
