Kwale scribes put pens, cameras aside to help end juvenile gangs

Armed with pens, cameras, recorders and notebooks, a group of Kwale journalists has moved to combat insecurity in Waa/Ngombeni, Matuga sub-county.

Setting aside their regular schedules, the group embarked on raising awareness about peace and security amid rising juvenile gang cases, which impact the environment in which they work.

The gangs comprise youth aged 9-35 years.

Kwale has experienced a surge in insecurity over the last few months, with cases of panga cuts, mugging, burglary, theft and vandalism leaving residents terrorised.

Areas around Diani in Msambweni and Matuga sub-counties have been severely hit.

The most recent incident saw several people, including students from the Technical University of Mombasa, Kwale Campus, attacked and seriously injured while returning from a night party in the Mbuwani area of Kona Musa-Mabokoni road.

Additionally, several deaths were reported last year, as clashing gangs launched retaliatory attacks on each other. The incidents prompted journalists to contribute to addressing the menace.

Working under a registered group called the Green Minds, the journalists are currently leading a three-month pilot peace project dubbed Punguza Vipanga, Jenga Amani.

The group's primary goal is to promote peace, gender equity, environmental conservation, and societal empowerment.

Funded by the Netherlands through the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA), the project is also part of capacity-building for journalists to grow their skills beyond newsrooms.

The Kenya Community Support Center is implementing the programme, which is expected to assist local NGOs in developing capacity to improve peace initiatives and inter-religious dialogues with youth and local communities, in a bid to reduce vices and improve the lives of the targeted population.

So far, the group has reached out to more than 20 juvenile gang leaders who are in the process of change and integration.

Green Minds Chairperson Caroline Katana said previously, journalists contributed by highlighting insecurity cases in the region, but can do more. 

"A time has come for us to do constructive and solution journalism because we are part of the society," she said.

Katana said they have partnered with county security, the community, kaya elders and religious leaders to spearhead peace campaigns.

They conduct maskani public barazas with youth and use places of worship to enhance religious tolerance for peaceful coexistence.

Katana said the peace dialogues have proved to be productive as more youth - through their leaders - have shown interest in quitting crime, are seeking amnesty and want to be peace ambassadors.

In the past month, cases of machete and panga attacks have declined and peace has been restored especially in Waa/Ngombeni, the Chairperson noted. 

The programme also seeks to link the youth to various non-government and government opportunities, who Katana said are "opening up "on the challenges forcing them to engage in crime.

Mental health sessions are held to help them cope with the community and challenges arising in their journey of transformation.

Causes of insecurity 

Bintihamis Kadide, the Green Minds project facilitator, highlighted some of the issues raised during the dialogues, which include unemployment, poor parents and failed marriages, all of which contributed to insecurity.

She claimed that having many single parents in the community placed a burden on children's mental health and that some parents vent their marital resentment on their children.

"These children lack parental attention and to compensate for the missed love they look for support somewhere else and unfortunately they get trapped in criminal gangs," she said.

The facilitator flagged financial constraints and child neglect as major concerns, as parents delegate their responsibilities and do not spend enough time with their children.

Additionally, some parents do not monitor their children's behavioural change and the people they interact with, which often leads to bad company.

Other parents are "overprotective"and hide their children after they commit a crime, Kadide said, noting that such youth later go rogue and become a nuisance in the community.

She said the vice has contributed to the loss of many energetic youth in the region.

Asha Bekidusa, the Green Minds Secretary, said insecurity cases were reported weekly, hence the call to start the peace project.

"The cases were alarming, a week won't end without having written and reported over three incidents of either burglary or machete attacks," she said.

The Secretary said the project is also part of giving back to the community, and creates a conducive environment for journalists to work, establish new contacts and build their careers, while using fair reporting and observing ethical standards of the media.

Bekidusa said apart from journalism, they "want to leave a blueprint that is worth remembering for the generation to come".

Implementing partner

Also lauding the programme, Samba Sports Youth Agenda officer Mwinyi Omar said the project brought together all stakeholders to brainstorm on matters of enhancing security and peace.

The initiative provides room for proper mitigation, since majority of the integrating youth had suffered several abuses.

"A trauma not healed is transferred and that's why many of these young people are mentally disturbed," Omar said.

County Police Commander Stephen Ng'etich also hailed the project for playing a crucial role in curbing insecurity and restoring peace.

He urged the integrating youth to take advantage of the programme, saying police will use all means to give them a chance to reform and become responsible members of society.

Ng'etich emphasised that crime does not build but destroys one's future since its repercussions are severe.

"Once your fingerprints are taken that's the end of you. It would be hard for you to get a certificate of good conduct or good job. Apart from that you can lose life," he said.

The county police boss encouraged youth to join Technical Trainings and embrace government empowerment programs to improve their lives.