Politicians Warned Against Sponsoring Gangs
By Harrison Kivisu and Mwakwaya Raymond
Email, thecoastnewspapaer@gmail.com
Interior cabinet secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed the arrest of a section of Coast politicians allegedly sponsoring criminal gangs to cause mayhem to the public.
The cabinet secretary blamed some coast politicians for bailing out criminals when arrested saying their actions were instigating runaway insecurity perpetrated of the likes of Panga Boys.
He said the government was gathering key Intelligence of the perpetrators noting that aspiring politicians were the most notorious as they were creating some criminal groups to intimidate their political opponents.
“Any political leader supporting gangs should be arrested and jailed. We know them and especially those sitting and aspiring politicians. We need to get rid of such people from our midst.”
In the recent past, the machete gangs have defied security apparatus in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale where residents are now living in fear due to marauding youthful criminals.
The security boss asked police commanders not to spare any politician who use youth to incite or bail them out when arrested over criminal activities would not be spared.
According to him there are a few leaders who are still entertaining gangs in the region.
“We will do everything humanly possible to ensure we arrest those politicians that are bailing out criminals.”
The CS was speaking during a Jukwaa la Usalama Mombasa county edition held at the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) amphitheater.
The meeting brought together police commanders, administrators, chiefs and their assistants, civil society and the political leadership in the county.
The CS kicked his Coastal tour of Jukwaa la Usalama in Mombasa today, Monday April 7, 2025.
“As far as coast Panga boys and MRC must end, we have a serious problem of insecurity but we are witnessing progress.”
Under the security radar are the local administrators – the chiefs and assistant chiefs who should report cases of insecurity within their jurisdictions failure to which they may get in trouble ‘waters’.
“We want to go back tp community policing where residents report crime activities within their spheres of influence.”
The coastal public engagements are on security, citizen services and cohesion. Jukwaa la Usalama involves engaging with residents, leaders, the clergy, regional and county security teams, national government, administration officers and peace committees.
The visits are also meant to gather feedback from wananchi on their experience with citizen services while conducting spot checks on the Mobile ID Registration rollout and other government services.
“During my working tour of all six counties in the region, I will also assess the level of disaster preparedness in the wake of rising climate change-driven extreme weather conditions.”
To counter drug and substance use, the SC said the county government should stop licensing bars near schools and homes saying it was derailing police enforcement and the war against the ever-growing criminal gangs.
“If we want to have a nation in the future we must ensure we have a good future of healthy people who are free from drugs and substance use. All those abusing the drugs must seek rehabilitation.”
On the registration of persons, he said replacement fees for identification card (ID) renewal would be reviewed.
He confirmed that the government was contemplating a review of the fees when an ID was lost.
On street families who were listed as among notorious for runaway insecurity, Mr Murkomen asked the County government of Mombasa to help remove street families that were threatening security within the Port City.
