Police nab 120 suspects in Kwale crackdown on ‘Panga Boys’ gang
Authorities have already taken 63 suspects to court, while another 33 are being held under a miscellaneous application as police seek an additional 14 days to complete investigations.
Police in Kwale County have arrested 120 individuals suspected to be part of the notorious "panga boys" gang, responsible for instilling fear among Diani residents.
The arrests were made during a week-long operation aimed at cracking down on the criminal group.
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Authorities have already taken 63 suspects to court, while another 33 are being held under a miscellaneous application as police seek an additional 14 days to complete investigations. Meanwhile, 16 more suspects are scheduled to be arraigned in court on Monday.
During the operation, law enforcement officers confiscated seven machetes believed to have been used in criminal activities, alongside 18 rolls of bhang and several mobile phones.
Msambweni Sub-County Police Commander Robinson Lang'at assured residents that the crackdown will persist until all gang members are apprehended.
He also emphasized that security measures will be intensified during the Eid-ul-Fitr festivities and advised beach operators to leave the shores by 6 pm for safety reasons.
In a court session held on Wednesday, a Kwale court ordered that 33 suspects accused of terrorizing Diani residents remain in custody for 14 days as their case progresses.
Appearing before Resident Magistrate Joy Mtimba, the suspects faced charges of being part of a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 3A(a) and Section 4(1) of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act, 2010.
“The suspects are said to have subjected residents of Diani to various forms of violence,” read a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Prosecutors, led by Chief Inspector Kennedy Mutunga, argued that more time was needed to finalize investigations, a request that Magistrate Mtimba granted.
She ordered that the suspects be held at different police stations across Kwale, Diani, and Msambweni as authorities continue with the probe.
The case is set for mention on April 8, 2025, when the court will give further directions.
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