The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Kenya has secured five-year prison sentences for two members of the Panga Boys gang. Jaffar Mohamed alias Fai and Salim Abdallah alias Kijana were convicted of breaking into Mtangawanda Primary School in Lamu East and stealing construction materials. The stolen items were intended for a classroom construction project funded by the Safaricom Foundation. The incident occurred on December 26, 2025, at around 2am.
The court heard that the two convicts broke into a classroom being used as a store and stole various construction materials. These included 11 containers of Super Gloss paint, a grinder, scrapers, paintbrushes, rollers, 10 rolls of electrical installation tape, and sandpaper. The theft was discovered by the school watchman and reported by project foreman Dennis Samson Bakari at Siyu Police Post. The DPP's office presented six witnesses whose evidence proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The stolen items were recovered through a series of events. On December 28, 2025, the two attempted to sell the grinder to Muhsin Nadhir in Pate village, claiming they had taken it because they had not been paid for work. Nadhir declined the offer and reported the matter to the area chief. The following day, police officers in Faza intercepted the suspects as they boarded a matatu to Kizingitini, recovering four litres of paint, brushes, rollers, and electrical tapes.
Following their arrest, the two led police to Mbui bushes, where additional stolen items concealed in sacks were recovered. The grinder was later recovered in Pate. In their defence, the accused claimed they had been arrested while travelling to visit an aunt and had been framed by police. However, the court dismissed their claims as a mere denial, citing their possession of recently stolen property and their role in leading police to other recovered items.
Probation reports presented before sentencing described the two as violent youths with a history of terrorising residents of Lamu East and Pate. The reports also linked them to several housebreaking incidents. Although they pleaded for leniency, saying they were breadwinners, the court found them unsuitable for non-custodial sentences and a danger to the community.
Principal Magistrate Peter Wasike sentenced each to five years in prison, effective from their respective dates of arrest. They were granted 14 days to appeal against their conviction and sentence. The DPP's office was represented by Principal Prosecution Counsel Derrick Wawire, who presented the case against the convicts.
The successful prosecution of the two gang members demonstrates the efforts of the Kenyan authorities to combat crime and ensure justice. The case also highlights the importance of community involvement in reporting suspicious activities to prevent and investigate crimes. The DPP's office continues to work towards securing convictions against individuals who engage in criminal activities.
Key points
- The two convicts were sentenced to five years in prison for stealing construction materials worth Ksh50,000 from a public primary school in Lamu East.
- The stolen items were intended for a classroom construction project funded by the Safaricom Foundation.
- The court found the convicts unsuitable for non-custodial sentences and a danger to the community due to their history of violence and terrorising residents.
