How Mombasa Gang Mastermind Motorcycle Purchase Led to His Arrest

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday, December 31, arrested a dangerous gang member while he was purchasing a new motorcycle just three days after angry locals torched his previous motorbike.

Taking to their X account, the DCI revealed that the gang member who was notorious for snatching phones from unsuspecting locals in areas around the Coast Region was apprehended by sleuths drawn from the Mombasa Regional headquarters.

“A notorious gang associate, infamous for using a motorcycle to snatch mobile phones from unsuspecting bystanders in Bamburi, Nyali, and Kadzandani areas, has been apprehended by detectives from Mombasa Regional Headquarters,” DCI disclosed.

“In a determined pursuit of the gang, detectives arrested the gangster at a motorcycle shop in Mombasa’s central business district, where he was purchasing a new bike. This came after angry locals torched his previous motorcycle during his theft spree on Saturday,” the investigative body added.

The arrest of the infamous criminal was part of a wider crackdown on Mombasa-based gangs who have reigned terror on locals in the past weeks and it led to the arrest of other members of the gang. 

During their operation, the detectives also recovered other items believed to have been stolen such as a motorcycle, a phone, and other items from the gang’s hideout near a primary school. The detectives however noted that some members of the gang managed to escape and are still at large.

“The officers expanded their operation to gang members hiding near Kadzandani Primary School, where they recovered a motorcycle with registration number KMGG 228X Honda, an Oppo mobile phone, and other items. However, other culprits managed to evade capture,” DCI stated.

The arrest comes in the wake of a resurgence of the infamous Mombasa criminal gangs, most of whom wield machetes. The gangs, who are mostly youth, are striking fear into locals.   

Residents in Mombasa and the greater Coast region urged local authorities to act swiftly to curtail the menace and restore safety in their neighbourhoods, especially during the December holidays.

Aside from action by police authorities, leaders from the region also rolled out a peace training program to combat the gang crisis. The violent incidents have greatly disrupted the holiday season with children from as young as ten reportedly participating in the gang activities.

Community leaders and government officials joined forces to address the growing crisis, with the Kenya Peace and Security Support Initiative (KEPSSI) rolling out urgent training to Sub-County Peace Committees.

The training sessions are aimed at equipping peace committees with new strategies to engage schools, parents, and communities in addressing this growing challenge.

Community leaders blamed dysfunctional family structures, poverty, and economic hardships for fuelling the violence.