MOMBASA County-Jan 2, 2025- Security concerns across Mombasa County continue to extend beyond crime statistics and police reports, revealing deep-rooted social, economic, and governance challenges affecting everyday life.
According to She Rises Organisation, Executive Director Salma Hemed, and a vocal female human rights defender from the Coast region, insecurity in Mombasa must be understood through the lived experiences of communities across Changamwe, Jomvu, Kisauni, Nyali, Likoni, and Mvita.
Drawing from community engagements and open forums held in these areas, Hemed notes that residents consistently raise similar concerns, pointing to systemic failures rather than isolated incidents.
One of the most persistent issues is alleged police bribery, with residents reporting that they are often required to part with as little as KES 200 before or after reporting cases. Such practices, she says, discourage reporting and deepen mistrust between communities and law enforcement.
“When people have to pay just to be heard, they stop believing in the system altogether,” Hemed says. “This creates fear, silence, and a sense that justice is only available to those who can afford it.”
Infrastructure gaps also emerged as a major contributor to insecurity. Inadequate street lighting in estates and informal settlements has created conditions that enable gang activity, muggings, and robberies, particularly at night. In areas such as Kongowea in Nyali, including Moroto and surrounding informal settlements, congestion and neglect have made it easier for criminal elements to operate while residents feel increasingly unsafe.
Another concern raised repeatedly by community is the widespread availability of low-cost illicit alcohol and drugs, including changa’a reportedly sold for as little as KES 10. Hemed warns that substance use among minors is becoming more common, fueling school dropouts, petty crime, and long-term dependency.
“We are losing a generation not because they want to break the law, but because drugs and alcohol are cheaper and more accessible than opportunity,” she observes. “This is a social crisis that cannot be addressed through arrests alone.”
Across Changamwe, Likoni, Kisauni, and Jomvu, residents consistently pointed to joblessness and idle youth as a key driver of crime. Hemed notes that many young people are drawn into gangs or illegal activities due to economic desperation rather than criminal intent, linking insecurity directly to unemployment and exclusion.
At the household level, economic strain has also contributed to rising domestic conflicts, domestic abuse, and gender-based violence (GBV). Women, in particular, bear the brunt of financial hardship, yet many cases remain unreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation, and low confidence in existing support systems.
“For many women, insecurity begins at home,” Hemed says. “When financial pressure meets silence and weak protection systems, abuse thrives unseen.”
Environmental neglect was also cited as an indirect but serious security concern. Poor solid waste management and blocked drainage systems pose health risks, increase flooding, and worsen living conditions in already vulnerable areas, further straining households and contributing to tension and instability.
Despite the gravity of these challenges, Hemed says community forums revealed a shared resolve towards action and collective responsibility.
Residents called for youth empowerment and rights awareness, assurance of government support at both county and national levels, increased civic and political participation, and open forums to confront corruption, safety, drug abuse, and GBV.
Her reflections align with findings from civil society research, including studies by organizations such as Vocal Africa, which underscore the importance of community voices in shaping effective security responses. Hemed argues that enforcement-heavy approaches, when detached from social realities, will continue to fall short.
“Security is not just about patrols and arrests,” she says. “It is about dignity, opportunity, trust, and listening to the most affected people.”
