Security Apparatus Vow to Ruthlessly Disband Criminal Gangs in Malindi

By Charo Banda

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Leaders in Kilifi County have sent a warning to criminal gangs operating in the area saying that they would be dealt with ruthlessly.

Led by Governor Gideon Mung’aro, his deputy Flora Chibule and County Commissioner Joseph Kibet, the leaders urged parents of criminals to report them to the police for action to be taken against them.

They said this during celebrations to mark Madaraka day at Marafa polytechnic grounds in Magarini Subcounty on June 1, 2026 where they also condemned rising cases of arson in schools.

Mung’aro said that the mawoza criminal gangs in Malindi town had created a lot of insecurity hence disrupting people’s livelihoods.

“I am calling on parents who know that their children are criminals to come out and report them to the police for action to be taken because we are losing a lot of people while some are getting lifelong injuries just because some stupid criminals want to steal from them.

We will not spare any criminals and as elected leaders we are working with security departments to ensure that criminals are wiped out,” he said.

The commissioner said that he would not hesitate to take action on anyone causing chaos and insecurity in the county and directed his officers to enhance patrols and apprehend the criminals.

“We will deal with those criminals without budging and it is our work to ensure that the society is free of criminal elements,” he said.

Ms Chibule called on parents to watch over and talk to their children and ensure they are nurtured well to prevent them from engaging in criminal activities like burning of schools.

“The rate at which learners in boarding schools are burning property is alarming and the Utumishi academy incident was the worst and here in Kilifi we have Galana secondary school and others that have been razed. We urge parents to talk to their children so that they can be raised in a moral upright manner,” she said.

Magarini MP Harry Kombe urged the commissioner to transfer national government administration officers (NGAOs) in the area for colluding with land grabbers to harass residents.