MOMBASA, Kenya — Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has called on security agencies to swiftly investigate a deadly attack on county enforcement officers in Likoni that left one officer dead, others injured and a police rifle missing.
The attack occurred at about 3.40am on Monday at a county cess collection checkpoint along Barabara ya Mchanga, where county enforcement officers and Administration Police officers were on duty.
The attackers reportedly overwhelmed the officers during a confrontation before escaping with an AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of ammunition belonging to an Administration Police officer.
The deceased was identified in initial reports as Omar Rashid Mzerera, a Mombasa County Inspectorate officer who sustained fatal gunshot injuries during the incident.
Speaking at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, where the injured officers were receiving treatment, Governor Nassir condemned the attack and called for those responsible to be apprehended and prosecuted.
“I call upon our security agencies to act firmly and within the law against criminal elements in Mombasa. Those responsible for the attack in Likoni must be brought to justice,” he said.
“We cannot allow criminals to undermine our county’s economic resurgence, threaten livelihoods or endanger those serving our people. Our residents, businesses and visitors deserve to live and work in safety.”
The governor also urged members of the public to provide information that could help investigators identify the suspects, saying cooperation between residents and security agencies was essential in keeping communities safe.
Mombasa County Commissioner Mohamed Noor said a multi-agency team comprising officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Kenya Police Service and the Administration Police had launched investigations into the incident.
Noor said investigators were pursuing several leads and seeking CCTV footage from the surrounding area to help establish how the attack unfolded and identify those involved.
However, a security camera housed in a container near the scene was reportedly not operational, potentially limiting the availability of footage from the immediate vicinity.
The commissioner appealed to members of the public with information relevant to the investigation to come forward, assuring residents that security agencies were working to apprehend the suspects.
He also urged residents not to panic as Mombasa approaches the high tourism season.
The circumstances surrounding the missing firearm remain a key focus of the investigation, with security agencies expected to establish how the attackers overpowered the officers and escaped with the weapon.
The motive for the attack had not been established by the time of publication.
Security concerns
The attack raises fresh concerns about the safety of officers manning public facilities and county revenue collection points, particularly during overnight operations.
Police officers reportedly responded after gunshots were heard from the checkpoint, but the attackers had already overwhelmed the team during the confrontation.
Investigators are expected to establish the number of assailants, the sequence of events leading to the fatal shooting and whether the attack was specifically targeting the officers or the collection point.
The theft of a police rifle also adds urgency to efforts to identify the suspects and recover the weapon.
Police had not publicly established a motive or confirmed any link between the attack and other security incidents in the area.
County leaders conveyed their condolences to the family of the deceased officer and wished the injured officers a speedy recovery.
