Mombasa County Commissioner Maalim Mohamed has issued a shoot-to-kill order against criminals in the region ahead of the 2017 polls.
The commissioner said the move is aimed at restoring sanity to the Coastal town.
Maalim said the decision was reached at by the county's security intelligence committee, and is aimed at averting violence during the upcoming elections.
He accused a section of politicians of plotting to cause chaos in next year's election, by bailing out criminals with the intention of financing them to disrupt the polls.
Maalim, however, said he was investigating criminal gangs and rogue officers reported to be colluding with the said politicians.
"Dishonest police are being identified and will be dealt with as individuals," he said, as quoted by The Star.
The commissioner vowed to conduct daily raids in crime hotspots and drug dens in Kisauni, Likoni, Jomvu, Old Town and Majengo, in a bid to flash out the criminals.
"Security agencies will carry out operations guided by intelligence as opposed to mass swoops," he said.
He further warned al-Shabaab returnees planning attacks in the county, saying they will be dealt with accordingly.
"Before you come for us we will come for you. This is our country," said Maalim.
Maalim said security had also been heightened at the Likoni Ferry Channel, adding that each ferry will have two to three security guards.
This comes even as leaders and human rights activists condemn the killing of criminals in the county.
Last week, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho condemned the killings, terming them as a human rights violation.
The governor called for an immediate end to extra-judicial killings in the county, urging police to carry out their investigations in a professional manner.
Joho's sentiments were reiterated by human rights activists, who called for dialogue among various stakeholders, in a bid to curb insecurity in the county.