Haki Africa's Gender and Children rights activist Salma Hemed at a past media briefing. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
Police are to blame for the mushrooming of juvenile gangs in Old Town and Majengo areas in Mombasa, a human rights lobby has said.Haki Africa's Gender and Children rights activist Salma Hemed said boys as young as 14 years have formed criminal gangs and are terrorizing locals.Salma said the trend has been witnessed by residents and the business community in Old Town who despite reporting the issue to the police, nothing tangible has been done to contain the surging insecurity in the area.She said residents have also handed photographs of the suspects to police yet no action has been taken against them.“Police have all the insecurity reports and adequate evidence to take stern action against the suspects and we wonder why nothing has been done so far,” asked Salma.The activist said insecurity has affected businesses and the livelihoods of residents as most of them are afraid of conducting their businesses after 6pm.Her sentiments were echoed by Coast Women in Development Executive director Betty Sharon who said women and school going children are the most affected by the insecurity in the area.On his part, Mohammed Abdallah, a businessman in the area, said a gang armed in crude weapons broke into his electronic and M-Pesa and made away with money and goods all worth Sh500,000.He said the criminals are usually arrested and later released without any charges.“We don’t understand where the problem is. Is it with our police officers or the parents of the suspects or even our political leaders?” posed Abdallah.However, Mombasa Police Commandant Peterson Maelo said police have been pursuing the criminal gangs.He admitted there was a major security problem within Old Town and blamed parents for hiding their children despite knowing they were involved in criminal activities.“We have arrested and taken them to court and I am assuring you that even the minors recruited in the criminal gangs will be punished according to the law,” he said.