Mombasa County has launched a significant crackdown on street urchins and street families due to rising concerns about crime and public safety.
This operation follows an increasing number of reports that these individuals have been harassing pedestrians, robbing motorists, and engaging in daylight thefts.
Several street families had even turned places like the historic Mbaraki Memorial Cemetery into makeshift homes and hideouts, further aggravating the situation.
The crackdown is being led by the County Chief Officer for Governance, Abdallah Daleno, in collaboration with local police and the County Inspectorate.
They aim to rid the city’s streets of these disturbances while also developing rehabilitation strategies to offer street families alternative livelihoods, reducing their reliance on criminal activities.
One particularly shocking incident involved a viral video showing a shopper being mugged in broad daylight along Haile Selassie Road.
This sparked widespread concern about the growing insecurity in Mombasa, prompting authorities to take swift action to restore order.
In response, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki issued a three-week ultimatum to security officials, demanding an end to the rampant crime and gang activities in the city.
Residents of Mombasa have welcomed the initiative, expressing relief at the renewed sense of safety in the city’s streets.
However, the rise in street families is believed to be partly due to the cancellation of a feeding program that had previously been providing meals to the homeless in the city.
The operation is ongoing, with efforts to not only remove individuals from the streets but also to find sustainable solutions for their rehabilitation.
