The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured five-year prison sentences for two members of the Panga Boys gang convicted of 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 found guilty of breaking into a classroom used as a store at Mtangawanda Primary School on December 26, 2025, and committing a felony.
Principal Magistrate Peter Wasike ruled that evidence presented by Principal Prosecution Counsel Derrick Wawire, supported by six witnesses, proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The court heard that the stolen items included paint, a grinder, brushes, rollers, electrical installation tape and sandpaper intended for a classroom construction project funded by the Safaricom Foundation.
The theft was discovered by the school watchman and reported to Siyu Police Post. Two days later, the suspects allegedly attempted to sell the grinder in Pate village.
Police officers in Faza arrested the pair on December 29 while they were boarding a matatu to Kizingitini. They recovered some stolen materials and later retrieved additional items from Mbui bushes and the grinder in Pate.
The magistrate dismissed their claims of being framed, citing evidence linking them to the recovered property.
Probation reports described the two as violent youths linked to several housebreaking incidents. The court ruled them unsuitable for non-custodial sentences and sentenced each to five years in prison, effective from their respective arrest dates. They were granted 14 days to appeal.
