Terrorism and juvenile gangs are the top security threats in the Coast region, with reports indicating rogue politicians exploit youth from poor communities to push their personal goals.

Residents of the six counties, especially Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi, have decried the reign of terror unleashed by the gang members comprising boys aged between 14 and 20 years.

The residents and local leaders who attended the six-day brainstorming sessions dubbed Jukwaa La Usalama, organised by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, also identified land issues as one of the serious challenges experienced in the region.

Reports show that the situation is most pronounced in Kilifi County, where a land invasion gang referred to as ‘Team Mashamba’ is doing brisk business.

“In total disregard of ownership and court orders, goons drive owners out of their properties. Some judicial officers who are notoriously on the take abet the crimes, rendering victims helpless with nowhere to turn to,” the Interior ministry said.

To address the menace, Murkomen said he would hold a meeting with the Ministry of Lands and the Judiciary to address the problem.

The town halls convened Assistant Chiefs, Chiefs, Commissioners, security personnel, leaders, youth, the business community, civil society, and grassroots leaders. They were held in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River, and Taita Taveta counties.

Another issue identified is border disputes, where leaders said there was rampant encroachment of their territories by other counties and communities. At the heart of the disputes are resources and communal pride.

As a result, the CS will present a report to the Cabinet that will pave the way for a law to delimit the boundaries with the help of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

In the Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, and Taita Taveta counties, the worsening droughts and floods have exacerbated conflicts between herders and farmers, clans and communities, as farmlands and pastures are increasingly impacted by the extreme weather conditions.

To remedy the situation, CS Murkomen proposed to strengthen resource conflict management committees in the region, collaborate with the county governments to create animal corridors, and streamline land use regulations. The Ministry will also deploy the peacebuilding department to work with peace committees on the ground to find sustainable solutions to the problems.