Mjambere residents demand streetlights as insecurity rises in Kisauni
Residents of Mjambere Ward in Kisauni, Mombasa, have petitioned the county government to urgently repair streetlights after a fatal gang attack, warning darkness is fuelling crime and hurting local businesses.
Residents of Mjambere Ward in Kisauni Subcounty are demanding swift action from the Mombasa County government to restore street lighting amid rising insecurity blamed on gangs.
Tension in the ward escalated this week after an elderly man was killed in a violent assault by a machete-wielding group who robbed him before fleeing into the darkness.
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The incident has intensified calls for urgent repairs to the lighting infrastructure that residents say has been neglected for months.
Hundreds of residents marched to the Mjambere Ward Administrator’s office, delivering a formal petition urging the county to reinstate dozens of faulty or completely non-functional streetlights.
They warned that large parts of the ward, including Kadongo, Kwa Hero and several adjoining estates, are plunged into pitch darkness shortly after sunset, creating ideal conditions for criminals to operate.
“We live in fear every evening. Without functioning lights, criminals roam freely. People cannot move about safely, and we feel abandoned,” said resident Mwinyi Mwichanzi.
Local civil society group Ajenda Kenya joined residents in presenting the petition, arguing that the prolonged blackout has made it increasingly dangerous for pedestrians, traders and motorists.
In a letter signed by its Executive Director, Otieno Obiero, the organisation cited persistent darkness along major routes such as Hongera Road and the stretch to Kadongo Road, noting that the issue has been raised repeatedly with no meaningful intervention.
Small-scale trader Vivian Akoth said the situation has disrupted livelihoods, particularly for women.
She noted that many businesses now shut by early evening, while boda boda riders avoid certain roads altogether for fear of ambush.
Ajenda Kenya urged the county department of transport and related infrastructure units to prioritise the repairs, arguing that reliable lighting is vital for public safety and local economic activity.
Mjambere Ward Administrator Hezron Katana acknowledged the complaints, confirming that 76 streetlights are currently in the procurement phase.
He assured residents that the county is working to address the security concerns and restore lighting across the ward as soon as possible.
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