18 Suspects Arrested in Major Crackdown on Criminal Gangs in Malindi

By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter

Kenya, 30 December 2025 - Security forces have arrested 18 suspects following an intensified police operation targeting criminal gangs terrorising Malindi town and its environs, authorities said on Tuesday.

The arrests stem from a series of raids in the Muyeye and Milano areas where officers recovered stolen mobile phones, a television set and crude weapons believed to be linked to violent crime and robbery.

Police said the suspects are in custody as investigations continue ahead of their forthcoming arraignment in court, with charges expected to include robbery, gang activity and unlawful possession of weapons.

The arrests came after an intelligence-led offensive by the National Police Service in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

According to court filings and police updates, the suspects were rounded up in coordinated raids overnight on Monday into Tuesday.

Recovered items, including stolen phones and a television set, are expected to be used as evidence in building charges against the suspects.

Gang activity has been a recurring source of insecurity in Malindi and parts of Kilifi County, with groups of juvenile and young adult offenders reportedly engaging in violent robberies, burglaries and extortion.

A recent statement by the Malindi Sub-County Police Commander, Moses Kosgei, highlighted efforts to dismantle networks locally known as “mawoza” groups of school dropouts and casual beach workers who have resorted to crime amid dwindling tourism jobs.

“We have managed to contain the woza woza groups,” Kosgei told journalists, noting that some gang members have fled or regrouped under new aliases, but emphasizing that police possess crucial intelligence, including details of their leaders.

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Police have previously undertaken similar actions in Malindi; in August 2025, 20 suspects were arrested in a major crackdown focusing on the Soweto and Kasufini areas, part of a broader push to combat violent crime and drug trafficking along the coastal strip.

The Malindi operation forms part of a wider national drive against gang networks and organised crime, with police ramping up intelligence-led arrests across multiple counties.

In 2025 alone, more than 50 suspects were arrested in Kisauni, Mombasa, as part of efforts to dismantle notorious machete-wielding groups like the Panga Boys.

Security agencies say the Multi-Agency Security Taskforce uses community informants and continuous patrols to disrupt criminal networks and clamp down on illicit activity, which often spikes during festive periods and in under-resourced coastal towns.

Law enforcement officials have repeatedly called on members of the public to assist police by reporting suspicious activity and refusing to shield gang members, a practice some officers say has enabled offenders to evade arrest in the past.

“We are committed to protecting lives and property,” one officer involved in the crackdown stated during recent operations, urging vigilant citizens to work with authorities to uproot crime at the community level.

The 18 suspects currently remain in custody as investigators prepare formal charges, which could include robbery with violence, possession of offensive weapons and participation in a criminal gang.

Their arraignment is expected in a Kilifi court later this week, where prosecution and defence will appear before a magistrate to determine bail and the next steps in the judicial process.