The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) on Wednesday, launched a book entitled, "The Impact of Organized Gangs on Social Cohesion in Kenya at the Sarova Stanley Hotel.
In a research that was conducted between November 2016 and June 2017 in 15 counties, including Mombasa, found that organized gangs are proliferating and almost 90% are mobilized, financed and deployed by politicians and are a key factor to social disintegration.
The study revealed 88.9% of the respondents named politicians as the main financiers.
In Mombasa, the famous 'Wakali Kwanza' and 'Wakali Wao' criminal gangs have been attacking Mombasa residents, as well as the neighboring counties on daily basis.
The gangs attack people using pangas and knives before looting their properties. The report indicates that they also engage in violence, smuggling of fire arms, violence targeted at political rivals, hate speech, extortion, drug trafficking and are a prime target of terrorist groups.
Basing on NCIC report which indicates that 'Wakali Kwanza' and 'Wakali Wao' are financed and deployed by politicians, business men and government officials, it is so ironical that leaders elected by the people are paying gangs to terrorize the very same people.
The two criminal gangs are much rooted in Kisauni and Likoni constituencies.
Within three weeks, police officers have managed to bring down at least 13 members of the group.