Residents in fear as machete-wielding gangs in Ukunda hijack anti-tax protests, cause mayhem

Tension was high in Ukunda, Kwale County, after machete-wielding gangs hijacked peaceful anti-tax protests, bringing the business town to a standstill.

The unrest, which began as part of the countrywide demonstration against the Finance Bill, 2024, escalated into violence, causing disruption and fear among locals.

Unlike previous protests, the criminals posing as demonstrators were in rugged clothes and armed with machetes and crude weapons.

Several businesses were closed and the usually busy Likoni and Lunga Lunga areas had been turned into battlefields with police officers and the gangs engaging in running battles.

Shops remained closed as business people guarded their shops. (Photo: Mishi Gongo)

Commuters were stranded at bus stops, and trucks transporting goods from Tanzania could not proceed to Mombasa. Tourists leaving Diani missed their flights and the Standard Gauge Railway trains after the youth blocked Mwachema Bridge on the Ukunda exit to Mombasa.

Tobias Kioko, a boda boda operator in Diani, insisted that the people engaging the police are not anti-tax protesters but criminals exploiting the situation.

"These are criminals. You can tell by looking at their appearances. Those who participated in the previous protests were neat and peaceful, but today we have seen criminals harassing people and vandalising property. They are hiding in the thicket along the feeder roads, ready to attack anyone who comes near. We've had to stop ferrying passengers because it's just too dangerous," he said.

Likoni -Lunga Lunga highway deserted. PSV operators have withdrawn their vehicles for fear of them getting torched. (Photo: Mishi Gongo)

Residents reported a series of violent incidents, including muggings and assaults.

Ali Hamisi, a local, said he witnessed a tuk-tuk operator being attacked and having his phone stolen by the gangs. The fear of further attacks has forced many businesses to close their doors.

Local business owners have closed their shops, and public transportation services, including matatus operations, have been suspended. The usually vibrant streets of Ukunda are now deserted, marked only by the remnants of burned tyres and debris from the violent confrontations.

"We've been receiving warnings from these criminals about potential break-ins at night," said Alice Jumwa, a concerned resident.

"This is not about the high cost of living anymore. These gangs are taking advantage of the protests to terrorise us," she said.

The residents of Ukunda, who once supported peaceful protests against the Finance Bill, 2024, are now condemning the unrest.

The previous protests had been marked by peaceful demonstrations, but the recent events have left the community in fear and panic.

Residents stand in groups looking on as the police engage the criminals. (Photo: Mishi Gongo)

In response to the escalating violence, police have been deployed to disperse the gangs, using tear gas to reclaim control of the streets. Despite their efforts, the gangs continue to pose a significant threat, prompting some residents to assist the police in restoring order.

Residents have expressed their frustration and demanded answers about the origin of these criminal elements.

"What we want to know is who sent these thugs because they are not the anti-tax protesters," said a resident. "Someone must be behind this escalation."

The violence has also led to incidents of looting and vandalism. In the Ibiza area, several hotels were broken into, with gangs stealing food and furniture. Business owners are calling for increased security and support from the authorities to protect their livelihoods.