Police inaction leaves residents at the mercy of thugs

A gang in Mombasa shocked the country on Monday night after it went on a three-hour rampage, slashing residents with machetes and other weapons.

With security agencies slow to respond, the estimated 30 members of a gang said to be Wakali Wao left tens of people with deep cuts. They also had time to rob locals and loot shops before escaping.

There have been other attacks countrywide, some which, although not as brazen as the Mombasa violence, have seen innocent residents killed or seriously injured.

In Matungu, Kakamega County, a gang calling itself 42 Brothers staged a series of attacks in one month and brutally murdered six people in a ritualistic fashion that caused deep fear among locals.

The victims had their tongues, genitals and eyes removed. In some cases, nothing was reported stolen.

The National Intelligence Service disclosed that police officers could be colluding with the criminals. The killings stopped after two politicians and individuals linked to the group were arrested. Some of the suspects have since been arraigned.

In Mombasa, the gang members were on foot or riding motorcycles. Others were driving a truck into which they loaded the goods looted from shops and supermarkets.

Victims said despite frantic calls being made to the police, it took officers close to three hours to respond. By then the attackers were long gone.

Bungoma has also witnessed its share of attacks. In 2013, locals decided to confront gang members after getting no help from the police. Eight suspected criminals were lynched by vigilantes in a retaliatory attack.