DESCRIPTION

Youth Gangs in Kwale and Mombasa have been clashing with other over control of territories and support base. Such clashes have been experienced during weddings and cultural events. These violent attacks started On 7th August, 2021, during a burial ceremony in Migombani, Likoni Subcounty of Mombasa. A revenge attack was staged on Sunday 8th after a wedding in the same area during a wedding ceremony. During this incident the gangs clashed resulting in a stampede that left one person seriously injured and scores with minor injuries. Migombani youth indiscriminately attacked residents of Bomani seriously injuring six people while robbing members of public in discriminatively. Police officers within Likoni were notified and have since intensified patrols in the area to prevent any further attacks. Investigations have also started to bring the attackers to justice.

Such attacks by criminal gangs against the civilians will in most cases lead to arrests by police and in some cases shooting that causes fear amongst the citizens and negatively impacts community cohesion. The most affected are women and children who in most cases get caught up in the exchange of fire between local criminal groups and police. In this case, communities fear the failure by police to arrest and ensure rule of law is established in Likoni might escalate as the Subcounty gears towards electoral period.

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