17 suspected members of the Kayole Gang have been arrested in Tana River County following a multi-agency security operation targeting the group's alleged criminal activities in Madogo and Mororo towns.
The National Police Service (NPS) said the operation was conducted by a team of security officers targeting the suspected criminal network, which has been accused of terrorising residents in the two areas.
The crackdown also led to the discovery of a suspected drug-peddling den, where officers recovered a consignment of suspected narcotic substances and an assortment of crude weapons. The recovery raised further concerns about the activities allegedly linked to the group, although police did not disclose the specific types or quantities of substances seized.
The recovered items were secured at the police station as exhibits to support investigations into the suspected criminal activities. The authorities are expected to use the evidence as part of the process of establishing the individual roles of those arrested and any possible offences connected to the operation.
The 17 suspects were taken into police custody following the arrests and were awaiting arraignment in court, according to the National Police Service. Their identities were not disclosed and the service did not provide further details on whether additional suspects were being pursued.
The operation involved multiple security agencies working together to target the suspected network in the two towns. Such coordinated operations are aimed at combining intelligence and enforcement efforts to identify individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities.
The NPS described the crackdown as part of its wider efforts to disrupt criminal networks through intelligence-led and targeted operations. The service said similar operations would continue across the country as security agencies seek to address criminal activities within local communities.
The police also credited the cooperation between security agencies and members of the public, urging residents to continue sharing information that could assist officers in identifying suspected criminal activity.
With the 17 suspects now in police custody, the next stage will involve their presentation in court, where the allegations against them will be formally addressed.
