4 arrested in crackdown on 'Panga Boys' gang in Kwale

According to the National Police Service (NPS), the suspects were tracked down and apprehended at a hideout in Mbuwani Village, Kwale County after a robbery with violence incident reported on the night of January 22, 2026.

The victim was reportedly attacked by four men armed with pangas, who stole his mobile phone and inflicted deep cuts to his head and hand before fleeing.

Officers recovered four pangas believed to have been used in the assault, along with six mobile phones suspected to be stolen.

The four suspects are being held at Diani Police Station as investigations continue ahead of their court appearance.

The arrests come amid rising concern over a wave of violent robberies along the Coast, with criminal gangs targeting homes, shops and pedestrians.

Nyali MP Mohammed Ali, also known as Moha Jicho Pevu, has called for heightened security operations in the region, describing the situation in parts of Mombasa and Kilifi as alarming. He said armed gangs were increasingly attacking small businesses and members of the public, leaving victims injured and traumatised.

"I call on the Inspector NPS to heighten security measures in the Coast and send troops to bring an end to this nightmare," the lawmaker posted on X. 

"Watching shopkeepers fight for their lives and livelihoods in the face of such brutal violence is heart-wrenching! This is an assault on the very heart of our commerce and community."

CCTV footage circulating online has captured some of the attacks linked to panga-wielding gangs. In one incident at a shop in Mtwapa last week, a shop attendant is seen attempting to stop a man from opening the front door, only for several others armed with pangas to force their way in.

The group corners the attendant inside the shop, demanding money as others stand guard outside. The robbery lasted just over a minute, leaving the worker bleeding with serious injuries.

In another clip from Bondo, attackers armed with pangas and a firearm are seen storming a shop, confronting customers and forcing the owner to hand over cash before fleeing on a motorcycle.

The NPS assured Kenyans that operations have been stepped up to dismantle organised criminal gangs and rein in violent crime along the Coast.