Msambweni OCPD moved after Panga Boys wreck havoc in Diani

Two senior police officers were transferred after notorious Panga Boys 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.

This came as multi agency teams embarked on a major operation to address the gang behind attacks in the region.

About 25 youths have so far been arrested in operations launched as police hope to tame the trend.

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.