Commander Ali Nuno Orders Shoot-to-Kill on Coast Panga Gangs

Coast regional police commander Ali Nuno has issued one of the toughest security directives in recent years, authorising officers to shoot and kill members of machete-wielding gangs terrorising residents across the region.

Nuno said police would no longer tolerate attacks by the notorious Panga Boys, whose violent robberies have left a trail of injured victims and shaken communities in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties. He warned that officers on the ground have been given clear instructions to use firearms where the law allows.

Addressing the media, the commander delivered a blunt ultimatum to criminals operating at the Coast, telling them to abandon crime or leave the region entirely. He said police would not hesitate to act decisively against suspects found armed and endangering lives.

“All those men and ladies involved in crime, your days are numbered. 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,” Nuno said.

He stressed that gangs armed with pangas posed a lethal threat to both civilians and police officers, insisting that the level of violence being witnessed demanded firm action. Speaking partly in Kiswahili, Nuno said officers had been authorised to neutralise suspects found attacking members of the public with machetes.

“Nikikupata na panga ukiumiza mtu, nakupiga risasi, hatutacheka na mtu. These are lethal weapons capable of killing. Nimepeana amri ya kutosha, maafisa watumie silaha yao na hao vijana waangushwe,” he said.

The hardline remarks come amid rising concern over a surge in violent robberies along the Coast, with gangs increasingly targeting shops, pedestrians and homes, often in broad daylight. CCTV footage circulating online has captured armed attackers storming businesses in areas such as Mtwapa and Bondo, leaving traders injured and residents traumatised.

In one recent incident, police in Kwale County arrested four suspected members of the Panga Boys following a violent robbery in Mbuwani Village on January 22, 2026. The suspects are accused of attacking a man with machetes, inflicting deep cuts to his head and hand before fleeing with his mobile phone. Officers later recovered four pangas and six mobile phones believed to be stolen.

Security officials say the gangs have become increasingly brazen, exploiting fear and intimidation to overpower victims. Residents in several neighbourhoods have complained of sleepless nights and reduced business activity as attacks persist.

Following the latest incidents, the National Police Service said operations have been intensified to dismantle organised criminal networks and restore safety across the Coast. Police say patrols, intelligence-led operations and rapid response teams have been deployed in hotspots as part of the crackdown.

Nuno maintained that the police would operate within the law but warned that criminals who choose violence should expect a lethal response. He urged residents to cooperate with officers and share information, saying public support was critical to ending the reign of machete-wielding gangs.