• Ann Wavinya, 31, is currently nursing head injuries at Coast General Hospital after she was attacked by panga-wielding youth in Kongowea, Mombasa, on Monday.
• Francis Auma, a rapid response officer from Muhuri, said they have received several cases of people being attacked by juvenile gangs.
Mombasa residents have raised alarm over increased attacks by panga-wielding juvenile criminal gangs.
They terrorise residents even in broad daylight.
At least five panga attack incidents have been reported in Nyali and Kisauni this week alone.
Ann Wavinya, 31, is currently nursing head injuries at Coast General Hospital after she was attacked by panga-wielding youth in Kongowea, Mombasa, on Monday.
Wavinya said she was attacked by two young men while heading to work. She was in the company of her 13-year-old daughter.
“I was going to work in the morning at around 6am. I was to drop my child off at school, but at Hongera area, near Kongowea Lights, somebody grabbed my bag from behind,” she narrated.
“As I tried to protect my bag, I did not know there was yet another man with a panga behind me. They hit me twice in the head using a sharp object before escaping.”
Wavinya said despite screaming in agony, no one stopped to help her and people just walked by. Her terrified daughter could do little to help her, she said.
Francis Auma, a rapid response officer from Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri), said they have received several cases of people being attacked by juvenile gangs.
He said Kisauni and Nyali are among areas reporting increased crime.
“As an organisation, we have this week received five cases of attacks. The latest incident was of a woman who was attacked and no one stopped to help her," Auma said.
He said if arrests are not made, more and more people would be hurt.
“We are calling for the arrests of those criminals. We want to see them punished in accordance with the law," Auma said.
On Monday, Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba and Kisauni deputy county commissioner Jamleck Mbugua held a security meeting in the area.
Bedzimba said the Mtopanga area in Kisauni has become a hotspot for juvenile gangs.
He said cases of insecurity started to be reported after the August 9 general election. Before then, Kisauni was peaceful, the MP said.
“We want to find ways to deal with the criminals. Today’s meeting is to help sensitise the youth to abhor crime. Members of the public should also work with the police to inform them whenever they witness incidences of insecurity,” Bedzimba said.
He said most youth involved in crime are well known within the community and residents should remain vigilant.
“These young men are our children, our neighbours and relatives. We know them. We ask the public to provide information about them,” the legislator said.
He urged parents not to protect their children who have decided to get involved in crime.
“Let us all work together to ensure there is peace and security in our area. This will even attract investors to come and invest in our constituency,” he said.
He urged the public to report any person funding or supporting crime to the police.
Mtopanga MCA Morgan Masaki said insecurity in the region will come to an end if the public, leadership and security officers work together.
Deputy county commissioner Mbugua said they are alert.
He said parents whose children are involved in crime will also be held responsible for their children’s deeds.
Mbugua said children aged between 13 and 18 years should be in school and not terrorising residents with crude weapons.
“We would want to know if the stolen property is divided within their homes or where they are being taken,” he said.
Edited by A.N