By Nuru Salim
Police in Likoni, Mombasa, have apprehended a notorious leader of the “Panga Boys,” a criminal gang terrorizing residents
The suspect, Moses Otieno alias “Daddy,” was arrested on Saturday while hiding in the Mathare area of Timbwani Ward.
The 27-year-old, who has been on the police wanted list, was captured by undercover officers from Likoni Police Station during a routine foot patrol.
Otieno is believed to be the mastermind behind a spate of violent robberies in Likoni and neighboring areas.
Police have described Otieno as a mastermind behind multiple robberies in Likoni.
His arrest followed a tip-off from the public, signaling growing cooperation between law enforcement and the community. He remains in custody, awaiting trial for robbery with violence.
Authorities have urged victims to come forward to identify the suspect and assist in building a stronger case against him.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions in Likoni where residents have endured rising cases of violence perpetrated by criminal gangs.
The police also cracked down on another gang leader, Ibrahim Juma Maulid, alias Ibra, who is linked to violent clashes between two criminal factions, the Kwa Joho and Shikaadabu gangs.
These turf wars have claimed lives, including two fatalities in recent weeks.
Not all gang members have faced justice in court. Two suspects, Titus Mumo and Mwinyi Babu, were lynched by an angry mob in Kwale’s Kombani Market after a string of violent robberies.
Their deaths, while controversial, underscore the community’s growing frustration and willingness to take justice into their own hands.
Marinda, who is paralyzed expressed her heartbreak over her son’s tragic end. “Losing a child this way is devastating. If I could have been mobile, I might have prevented him from taking this path,” she said.The crimes committed by the gang have left deep scars on the community.
In one chilling account, Gladys Kanini, a resident of Kona ya Zamani, was attacked by three machete-wielding men who stole her phone, two handbags, and Ksh. 50.
Another resident, Ashkura Alawi, reported her home in Tongenyama being looted in broad daylight, with thieves making off with a TV, cooking gas, and other valuables.
She and other victims have identified some of the suspects during police lineups, further implicating the gang.
Police have pledged to intensify their efforts to dismantle the “Panga Boys” network.
Community members, however, stress that arrests alone are not enough.
They demand a long-term solution that includes addressing youth unemployment, which many believe is the root cause of such crimes.
Meanwhile, authorities have ramped up efforts to dismantle the gangs, with police confirming that investigations are ongoing to capture other members.
Community policing initiatives and increased patrols have been tightened to restore public safety as the December holidays approach.
With the arrest of Otieno and ongoing operations against the gangs, residents still live with the hope of the end of gang-related violence in Likoni and beyond.
