Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno has authorised police officers to use firearms against armed criminal gangs as security operations are intensified across the Coast region following a surge in violent attacks.
Speaking to the press on Saturday, February 7, 2026, Nuno said officers have a legal right to defend themselves and members of the public when confronted by suspects posing an immediate threat, particularly those armed with machetes and other lethal weapons.
The directive applies to crime hotspots in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties, where gangs have been linked to a wave of violent robberies targeting shops, homes and pedestrians.
“All those men and ladies involved in crime for one reason or another, your days are numbered,” Nuno said. “Crime doesn’t pay. You have two options: desist and accept salvation or move out of the entire Coast region. Where we are justified to use our firearms, we will not hesitate.”
In a blunt warning delivered in Swahili, the police commander emphasised that officers would act decisively against armed criminals.
“Nikikupata na panga ukiumiza mtu, nakupiga risasi, hatutacheka na mtu,” he said, adding that machetes are deadly weapons capable of causing fatal injuries.
“These are lethal weapons. I have given clear orders that officers should use their firearms and neutralise these criminals,” Nuno stated.
The remarks come amid heightened public concern over attacks attributed to gangs commonly known as Panga Boys, who have been terrorising residents, often striking at night and using machetes to threaten, maim or rob their victims.
Police say intensified patrols, intelligence-led operations and community cooperation are underway as part of a broader crackdown on violent crime in the region.
