Police in Lamu County have arrested four alleged gang members armed with crude weapons and found in possession of narcotics during a targeted operation in the Wiyoni area.
The raid, conducted on Tuesday by officers from Lamu Police Station, followed a crucial intelligence alert from members of the public.
This follows a history that stretches from the large-scale Mpeketoni atrocities in 2014 to recurring village raids and the latest arrests in Wiyoni.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), the operation was launched after officers received a tip-off warning of suspected criminal activity inside a house in Wiyoni.
“Police officers from Lamu Police Station, acting on a tip-off from the public, conducted a successful raid on a house in the Wiyoni area,” the statement said.
Inside the premises, officers recovered an assortment of dangerous weapons. The NPS confirmed that these included “pangas, spears, and metal rods,” tools often associated with armed criminal gangs operating in informal settlements and urban neighbourhoods.
Police also discovered a substantial quantity of cannabis sativa, signalling a possible narcotics distribution link involving the suspects.
The four individuals were immediately taken into custody and escorted to Lamu Police Station.
They are currently being detained as officers begin formal processing and prepare to present them in court. “The suspects were escorted to the station and are being held in custody, pending processing and arraignment in court,” the statement noted.
Lamu County local media and county residents have repeatedly warned about smaller, machete-wielding groups, often described in coverage as “panga boys” who terrorise neighbourhoods with night raids, robberies and assaults.
Authorities hailed the raid as a successful demonstration of community police cooperation, with the NPS emphasising that the tip-off played a central role in the dismantling of the suspected criminal operation.
The police further indicated that more operations of this nature would continue as part of their broader crime-prevention strategy.
In its official communication, the NPS reaffirmed its commitment to enhance security and combat violence, drug trafficking, and gang activities across the country.
“National Police Service reiterates its commitment to fighting crime and protecting the public,” the statement read, underscoring the agency’s intensified efforts to curb rising insecurity in various regions.
The NPS also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or activities, stressing that community intelligence remains a powerful tool in deterring criminal networks.
The statement called on citizens to share information promptly, adding that early reporting can prevent potential attacks, narcotics trade, and other criminal operations from taking root.
“We encourage members of the public to report any suspicious activity in their neighbourhood to the nearest police station, or anonymously through the toll-free hotlines 999, 911, or 112, or via #FichuaKwaDCI on 0800 722 203 / WhatsApp 0709 570 000,” the NPS appealed.
