Twelve arrested in crackdown against 'Panga Boys' in Kwale

Police have arrested twelve suspects said to be responsible for a series of violent attacks and looting against residents and business owners in Kwale and surrounding areas.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the arrests were part of efforts aimed at neutralizing machete-wielding gangs popularly known as 'Panga Boys'.

The DCI said the twelve are being interrogated and are being processed for arraignment.

"Investigative interviewing on the suspects who are currently being processed for arraignment has provided leads to more notorious members that are still at large, and thus the crackdown has been intensified with more units being dispatched," said the DCI in a statement.

The development comes days after prosecutors in Kwale successfully obtained a 14-day detention order for 33 men accused of being members of a criminal gang.

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 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.

Meanwhile, in Kisauni Sub-County, police have arrested two people who were found in possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

The silver Toyota Axio was reported stolen at Buruburu Police Station, Nairobi, police say.

"Acting on forensic leads, detectives trailed the vehicle to Utange area, where they discovered its tracking device abandoned roughly 20 meters from a perimeter wall compound where the said motor vehicle was recovered," said a police report.

At the said scene of crime, police found the vehicle fitted with a different registration plate and its front dashboard partially dismantled, likely in preparation for a quick resale or parts trade.

Also recovered were assorted car keys, dismantled car trackers, a key programming machine, several other plate numbers, two log books, and one laptop.

The suspects are being held at the Mjambere Police Station pending arraignment.