33 Panga Boys gang members detained for 14 days after attack in Diani

Prosecutors in Kwale successfully obtained a 14-day detention order for 33 men accused of being members of a criminal gang, in violation of 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.

In an application filed on March 25, 2025, the State, through an affidavit sworn by Chief Inspector Kennedy Mutunga, requested the Kwale Law Courts to detain the suspects for 14 days to facilitate comprehensive investigations.

Resident Magistrate Joy Mtimba granted the request, ordering that the suspects be held at various police stations across Kwale, Diani, and Msambweni.

The case will be mentioned on April 8, 2025 for further directions.

This came as police intensified operations in the area to address the menace.

Two senior police officers were transferred after the notorious gang attacked and injured residents in Diani, Kwale County.

The two transferred officers are Msambweni Sub-County Police boss Ahmed Hillow and Diani Officer Commanding Station (OCS), officials said.

Police headquarters said Tigania West Sub-County Police Commander Robinson Langat was named the new Msambweni commander replacing Hillow.

Langat was ordered to report to the new station immediately by March 25.

Coast police boss Ali Nuno held a series of meetings in the area as he sought to restore confidence among locals.

Nuno, in the company a host of elected leaders from the region, has set in motion a deliberate and purposeful crackdown on young men who have been needlessly attacking and robbing residents of Coastal Towns of Mombasa’s Likoni and Kwale’s Diani areas particularly.
He has embarked on a series of events that combine both stiff enforcement of the law and community engagement where he has began a series of meetings with the elders and youths.

This came as about 100 young boys surrendered to authorities vowing to abandon what they termed as criminal activities.

County government officials promised to absorb some of those who surrendered to sustain them.

On his side, Nuno blamed poor parenting for the trend in the region.
“Spare the rod and spoil the child. Poor parenting has led to all these issues and we must deal with them before it is too late,” he said.

This came after panga welding youth stormed some shops in Diani looting and injuring residents.

The group had come from a burial event in the area where 29-year-old Juma Said had been stabbed to death before starting to attack unsuspecting locals.

Police say they have now deployed more personnel and engaged other apparatus in the area to deal with the menace.