Coast insecurity: Panic as 12 killed in two weeks

Twelve individuals have been killed in Mombasa County over a fortnight, sparking widespread fears and deepening concerns over lawlessness in Kenya’s coastal region. In that period, both suspected gang-related violence and allegedly heavy-handed police actions have contributed to the mounting death toll, notably in the densely populated areas of Likoni and Kisauni. The Standard
The violence has laid bare longstanding tensions in Mombasa’s poorer neighborhoods, where criminal gangs and local authorities engage in a cycle of reprisals. According to reports, some of the recent fatalities are linked to gang warfare, while others appear to result from fatal encounters involving law enforcement. The Standard Communities in Likoni and Kisauni, already vulnerable due to poverty and limited access to resources, are now grappling with heightened insecurity that many say mirrors earlier periods of instability. The Standard
Residents and civil society leaders are calling urgently for a sustained security intervention, decrying the current trend as a failure of policing and safeguarding basic rights. It is deeply troubling when the very people who are supposed to protect us are blamed for some of these deaths, a local community leader told The Standard. The Standard Others worry that without meaningful reform, the region could spiral into even more violence.
Looking ahead, observers argue that a two-pronged strategy is needed: not just stronger security operations, but also social investment to address the root causes of crime. Experts suggest that community policing, job creation, and improved youth engagement could go a long way toward restoring peace. With the stability of the Coast region increasingly fragile, the pressure is on national and county governments to deliver swift and credible solutions.