Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has warned gangs killing the elderly at the Coast.
Addressing journalists in Mombasa on Tuesday, Matiang’i said the killings have become rampant.
“There is a problem that is unique to the Coastal region and that is killing the elderly. This problem is becoming chronic in the Coast region and it happens only here for various reasons,” he said.
Matiang’i dismissed claims that it is a cultural issue at the Coast and insisted anyone who kills ought to face the full force of the law.
“It is a serious issue and we know some of them could be tied to the land tenure system in Coast, challenges related to the adjudication of land,” he said.
“Our colleagues at the Ministry of Lands are working hard on this but even then, there is no reason why one should take the law into their own hands and cause the death of others.”
Matiang’i said statistics are being taken and narrowing down to sub-locations and locations to track where the killings are happening.
He further said officers will work closely local community leaders, faith-based organisations and Nyumba Kumi to rid off the vice.
Matiang’i also said the ministry is paying close attention to M-Pesa theft cases in South Coast, especially in Kwale and the rampant killings happening in Kisauni.
He said such criminal gangs should not live among other Kenyans but rather in jail.
“We will not negotiate the security and safety of our people. We will come for you, arrest you and take you before a magistrate. We are going to be very hard on you,” he said.
The CS reiterated that the cops will enforce the ban of “Disco Matangas” from 11 pm.
He said though the discos were initially started off as a cultural way of keeping vigil in homes where bereavement has happened, it has become a criminal opportunity.
He said gangs engage in sale and distribution of drugs and rape during the occasion.
“I have no problem deploying more security on this issue and we have discussed with the Inspector General we will step up security resources,” Matiang’i said.
“It is shameful when we have a situation where teenagers are raped; this is a crisis we are going to confront and crack hard on it. We must go back to our normal sensible way of life so that our kids can go to school. We will not have them to play loud music and consume alcohol. we will not accept them,” he added.
