Security officers in the Coastal County of Mombasa have vowed to deal with the emerging knife-wielding criminal gangs.
The local gangs have been blamed for the rising cases of insecurity in the area, amid public concerns that the gangs are financed by politicians.
The Mombasa County Assembly security committee blamed the emergence of the criminal gangs on local politics.
The committee said that it is alleged that a section of politicians have sensed defeat and have resolved to funding gangs with the sole aim of intimidating rivals during their election campaigns.
Local elected leaders have now demanded that the police arrest and charge the said politicians in court.
Nyali Member of Paliarment, Mr Hezron Awiti, has joined Mombasa County Governor Mr Hassan Joho in calling for prosecution of irresponsible politicians as a way of restoring peace in the Coastal region.
“The funding will attract more youth, causing them to engage in crime because of the high levels of unemployment in the area,” said Awiti.