Security concerns linger as Muslims gather to celebrate Idd ul- Fitr
By Reuben Mwambingu, April 1, 2025A section of Muslims marked Eid-ul-Fitr yesterday, after Chief Kadhi Athman Abdulhalim’s official announcement that the crescent moon of Shawwal had been sighted in multiple locations across the country on Sunday evening.
With the confirmation, Monday, March 31, was declared Eid day, allowing the faithful to gather for special prayer- Salat al-Eid, and celebrations.
In Mombasa, thousands of faithful congregated at the Ronald Ngala Primary School grounds, where Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Mvita MP Mohamed Soud Machele, and government officials joined in the prayers.
Addressing the press after the prayer, Nassir expressed concern over the growing menace of juvenile gangs in the county, linking the crisis to poor parenting and school exclusion.
He there is a “direct nexus between school exclusion and the rise of juvenile gangs in Mombasa.”
“I will always maintain that there is no justification for the existence of juvenile gangs. It all comes down to education. It is easy to blame unemployment, but let’s face the facts—how does a 14, 15, 17, or even 19-year-old engage in crime? These young people should be in school or, at the very least, in Madrassa. We cannot use unemployment as an excuse,” said Nassir.
He said the surge in criminal activity was not unique to Mombasa but a regional issue.
This comes as reports emerge of a notorious gang in Likoni, known as “Chafu” which has been terrorising residents, particularly during holiday seasons.
The gang, reportedly composed of multiple criminal factions, is said to operate in a recurring pattern, launching attacks on civilians when public celebrations are underway.
Kassim Yusuf, a resident of Likoni’s Soweto area, revealed in an exclusive interview that these gangs, often linked to drug abuse—including bhang and Rohypnol—have instilled fear in the community for years. “As residents, we have come to expect these attacks, especially during public holidays when crowds gather,” Yusuf said.
According to him, many of the gang members are well known in the neighborhood but evade arrest because their families shield them.
“Their relatives defend them because, at home, they appear innocent. They don’t keep weapons or use drugs in the house, which makes it difficult to suspect them,” he explained.
Yusuf further criticized the police for limiting their patrols to main roads, leaving the inner villages vulnerable.
“These gangs plan their attacks carefully. They know where the police rarely patrol, and that’s where they strike,” he added.
Among the most feared groups in Likoni are Shiranga, Young Thug, Watalia, and Wajukuu wa Bibi, while Kisauni has its own infamous factions, Wakali Wao and Wakali Kwanza.
Meanwhile, at Masjid Ummu Kulthum in Kizingo, special Eid prayers were led by Dr. Islam Mohamed, who was joined by prominent figures including businessman Abu Joho (elder brother to CS Hassan Joho), Mombasa ODM branch chairman Mohammed Hamid Dee, and politician-businessman Said Abdalla.
Dr Mohamed urged Muslims to celebrate responsibly and uphold the teachings of Islam.
“Let us not engage in violence. Instead, let’s extend kindness to the less fortunate, whether through financial aid, food, or other means. That is what Islam teaches,” he emphasized.
His message was echoed by Said Abdalla and Mohammed Hamid Dee, who called for peace and unity in the country. Hamid praised the unity within the broad-based government, crediting it with maintaining stability.