Two members of the ‘Panga Boys’ gang have been sentenced to five years in prison each for breaking into a primary school in Lamu East and stealing construction materials worth Sh50,000. Jaffar Mohamed, alias Fai, and Salim Abdallah, alias Kijana, were convicted of breaking into a classroom at Mtangawanda Primary School and committing a felony under Section 306(a) of the Penal Code.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Derrick Wawire called six witnesses whose evidence Principal Magistrate Peter Wasike found credible and consistent, concluding that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court heard that the two broke into a classroom being used as a store at around 2am on December 26, 2025, and stole construction materials intended for a classroom project funded by the Safaricom Foundation. The stolen items 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 to Siyu Police Post by project foreman Dennis Samson Bakari.
On December 28, the two allegedly attempted to sell the grinder to Muhsin Nadhir in Pate village, claiming they had taken it because they had not been paid for their work. Mr 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. The suspects later led officers to Mbui bushes, where additional stolen items hidden in sacks were recovered. The grinder was subsequently found in Pate.
In their defence, the two denied the charges, claiming they had been arrested while travelling to visit an aunt and had been framed by police. However, the court dismissed their claims, pointing to their possession of recently stolen property and their assistance in leading officers to other recovered items.
Probation reports described the two as violent youths who had allegedly terrorised residents of Lamu East and Pate and linked them to several housebreaking incidents.
Although they pleaded for leniency, arguing that they were breadwinners, the court found them unsuitable for non-custodial sentences and considered them a danger to the community. Magistrate Wasike sentenced each of them to five years in prison, with the sentences running from their respective dates of arrest. They were granted 14 days to appeal against their conviction and sentence.
