One killed, property destroyed as violent gangs clash

Tension was high in Ngombeni, Kwale County following Thursday's incident where two rival gangs clashed, leading to the death of a man.

Ali Noor, 27, who was hacked, succumbed to his injuries at Coast General Hospital.

A motorcycle was also torched in Denyenyeye area along Likoni-Ukunda road.

Criminals from Denyenye, Shikaadabu and Likoni had ganged up against rival groups from Ngombeni, Mtongwe and Vyemani.

GSU officers from Waa camp were deployed to restore order after the regular police were overpowered.

Three trucks of GSU officers arrived at the crime scene and opened a road that had been closed by the rowdy gangs.

Area chief Athman Macheso told The Standard the groups had attended a night party in Diani and on their way home, in the middle of the night, clashed over reasons yet to be known.

"The situation is relatively calm now, unlike the past two days. Enough security was deployed and there is normalcy," said Macheso.

He said they were tracking down the main culprits from both groups, who are suspected to be the kingpins of the criminal gangs.

When The Standard visited the scene yesterday morning, a group of about 50 men aged between 20 and 27 had ganged up at Denyenye.

"They were there since Saturday evening," a trader who sought anonymity told The Standard yesterday.