Police Arrest Four Panga Boys Gang Members After Violent Kwale County Attack

2026-02-06 region

Kwale, 6 February 2026
Kenyan authorities have detained four suspected members of the notorious Panga Boys criminal gang following a machete attack that left a local resident with severe head and hand injuries in Mbuwani Village on 22 January 2026. Police recovered four pangas and six stolen mobile phones during the raid at the gang’s hideout. The arrests are part of intensified security operations targeting violent criminal networks terrorising Kenya’s coastal region, where armed gangs have increasingly attacked businesses and residents with machetes, prompting calls from lawmakers for enhanced security measures.

Details of the January Attack and Police Response

The National Police Service tracked down the four suspects to their hideout in Mbuwani Village following investigations into the violent robbery that occurred on the night of 22 January 2026 [1][3][4]. According to police reports, the victim was ambushed by four men armed with pangas who stole his mobile phone and inflicted deep cuts to his head and hand before fleeing the scene [1][3]. The attackers left the resident with serious injuries that required medical attention [4][6]. During the operation that led to the arrests on Friday, 6 February 2026, officers recovered four pangas believed to have been used in the assault, along with six mobile phones suspected to be stolen property [1][3][4]. The suspects are currently being held at Diani Police Station as investigations continue ahead of their planned court appearance [1][3].

Rising Wave of Coastal Violence

The arrests come amid growing concern over a wave of violent robberies along Kenya’s coast, with criminal gangs increasingly targeting homes, shops, and pedestrians [1][6]. CCTV footage circulating online has captured some of the attacks linked to panga-wielding gangs, demonstrating the brazen nature of these crimes [1]. In one incident at a shop in Mtwapa last week, footage shows a shop attendant attempting to prevent several panga-armed attackers from entering, only to be cornered inside the shop as the group demanded money [1]. The robbery lasted just over a minute, leaving the worker bleeding with serious injuries [1]. In another clip from Bondo, attackers armed with pangas and a firearm were seen storming a shop, confronting customers and forcing the owner to hand over cash before fleeing on a motorcycle [1].

Political Calls for Enhanced Security

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 [1][6]. The lawmaker stated that armed gangs were increasingly attacking small businesses and members of the public, leaving victims injured and traumatised [1]. “I call on the Inspector NPS to heighten security measures in the Coast and send troops to bring an end to this nightmare,” Ali posted on X [1]. He added: “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” [1]. The MP’s concerns reflect broader anxiety about the security situation affecting both local residents and those travelling through coastal routes [6].

Intensified Police Operations and Community Impact

The National Police Service has assured Kenyans that operations have been stepped up to dismantle organised criminal gangs and rein in violent crime along the coast [1][3]. Police have intensified security operations in Kwale County and surrounding areas as part of their commitment to protecting lives and property [3][8]. The arrests follow recent similar operations, including the detention of a robbery suspect captured on CCTV attacking a watchman in Mombasa [6]. In that case, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations arrested the suspect at a guest house in Bondeni, recovering a blood-stained panga and assorted mobile phones [6]. Kwale County has witnessed heightened police patrols and intelligence-led operations targeting armed gangs blamed for a spike in robberies and violent attacks [8]. The NPS has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as security agencies continue their crackdown on criminal networks operating in the coastal region [3][8].

Bronnen

gang arrests Kwale security