Residents of 17 villages bordering Mangawani forests in Kwale County live in fear due to a series of murders and robberies carried out by criminals at night.
Residents say the attackers emerge between 2 and 3 a.m. armed with machetes and target people returning home. Bw Kisilu Mbai, aged 86, said the unknown identity of the perpetrators creates as much fear as the killings themselves.
Bw Jacob Mwanzia said his family was devastated after his grandmother was found murdered. Assistant Chief Salim Nzala said three murder reports have been received since December 2025 and forwarded to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
The government has set up a police station in Mangawani and increased patrols. Coast Police Commander Bw Ali Nuno said the overall security situation has improved across the area.