Twenty-five youths from low-income households in Mombasa County have received tuk-tuks under an empowerment programme aimed at curbing crime by addressing unemployment, even as security agencies warned of remaining criminal gangs in the region.
The initiative, led by Mission Relief Africa in partnership with government stakeholders, was launched at Treasury Square grounds on Saturday. It seeks to provide sustainable livelihoods to vulnerable youth by equipping them with income-generating transport businesses.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Kipkoech Lagat lauded the programme, noting that unemployment remains one of the key drivers of crime in the coastal county. He said empowering young people economically is central to strengthening community policing and reducing insecurity.
“Mombasa has been one of the counties that have recorded high cases of criminal gangs. However, through sustained pressure from the Regional Commissioner and security teams, gang-related crime has reduced significantly,” said Lagat.
He added that the government remains committed to eliminating criminal networks that continue to harass residents in parts of Mombasa, including Kisauni and other densely populated areas.
Lagat said the tuk-tuk empowerment initiative complements ongoing security operations by providing idle youth with legitimate sources of income, reducing their vulnerability to recruitment into criminal groups.
“We do not want criminals associated with gangs to disturb the people of Mombasa. The arm of government will not tolerate such activities, and offenders will face the full force of the law,” he warned, adding that the crackdown on gangs would be sustained across the country.
He further addressed planned demonstrations scheduled for June 25, in commemoration of victims of the 2024 and 2025 anti-Finance Bill protests, assuring that police would provide security for peaceful demonstrators while taking firm action against individuals who may attempt to incite violence or cause disruption.
Mission Relief Africa Chairman Said Mabrouk said the tuk-tuk programme followed a strict vetting process to ensure that only genuinely needy youth benefited from the initiative.
“This project is one of the most important initiatives we have implemented. Today we are proud to officially launch it by distributing 25 tuk-tuks to deserving youths, particularly from low-income families, to help them earn a living,” said Mabrouk.
He explained that beneficiaries were selected through a transparent process involving local administration, where applicants were required to present recommendation letters from area chiefs, certificates of good conduct, and valid driving licences.
Mabrouk added that the organisation also conducted home visits to verify the economic conditions of applicants to ensure fairness and accountability in the selection process.
He noted that insecurity in Mombasa is largely driven by youth unemployment, which continues to push many young people into crime due to lack of economic opportunities.
“The goal of this initiative is to empower young people to earn a livelihood and address the root causes of crime linked to unemployment,” he said.
By Ramadhan Nassib
