Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Coast-based civil societies have sounded the alarm over the surge in insecurity across the region.

Speaking at Haki Africa offices in Mombasa, Executive Director Yusuf Aboubakar revealed that data compiled by Social Justice Centres indicates a sharp increase in crime and violence, especially in Kisauni, Changamwe, Likoni and Nyali in Mombasa county.

Other affected regions include Diani, Matuga, and Lungalunga in Kwale, as well as Mtwapa, Kaburi Moja, Mnarani, and Kijiwetanga in Kilifi County.

“We are deeply concerned about the escalating insecurity,” Aboubakar said. “The recent gruesome attacks in Kisauni, where individuals were severely injured and some had body parts mutilated, are particularly distressing.” In a chilling display of violence, machete-wielding gangs recently unleashed terror in Kwale town, attacking residents indiscriminately near Baraza Park, the posta near Huduma Centre, and Kombani town.

Several people were injured, and properties were vandalised during the incident, which occurred shortly after the final of a football tournament at Kwale Stadium.

Similar attacks have been reported in Mombasa county, where gangs emerge almost monthly. According to sources within the intelligence community, these gangs are more than just criminal groups.

They are believed to enjoy financial and political backing, allegedly from wealthy drug barons and powerful politicians. While some of the residents have raised concerns over alleged collusion between police and relatives of suspects for cover up, police on the other hand blame the public failure to cooperate with them to provide high value information needed to incriminate the suspects.

A private investigator, told People Daily that these gangs are often used as tools by barons and land grabbers to intimidate and silence critics.