Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno has authorised police officers to use firearms against the notorious Panga Boys gang, which has been terrorising residents and businesses through violent robberies across the region.

Speaking to the press, Nuno issued a stern warning to those involved in criminal activities, saying they have only two options: abandon crime or leave the Coast region altogether. He emphasised that police officers will not hesitate to use their firearms when legally justified.

“All those men and ladies involved in crime for one reason or another, your days are numbered. Crime doesn’t pay. You have two options: desist and accept salvation or move out of the entire Coast region. Where we are justified to use our firearms, we will not hesitate,” Nuno said.

The regional commander noted that decisive and firm action was necessary to curb the rising cases of violent crime that have left residents living in fear, particularly in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties.

He warned criminals found armed with pangas that police would respond with lethal force if lives are threatened.

“Nikikupata na panga ukiumiza mtu, nakupiga risasi, hatutacheka na mtu. These are lethal weapons capable of killing. Nimepeana amri ya kutosha, maafisa watumie silaha yao na hao vijana waangushwe,” Nuno stated.

His remarks come amid growing public concern over a surge in violent robberies along the Coast, where criminal gangs have been targeting shops, pedestrians and homes. Several CCTV clips circulating on social media show attackers armed with pangas and firearms storming businesses in areas such as Mtwapa and Bondo, leaving victims injured and traumatised.

In a recent incident in Kwale County, police arrested four suspected members of the Panga Boys gang following a violent robbery in Mbuwani Village on January 22, 2026. The suspects are alleged to have attacked a man using pangas, stealing his mobile phone and inflicting deep cuts on his head and hand.

During the arrest, officers recovered four pangas and six mobile phones believed to have been stolen from various victims.

Following the attacks, the National Police Service assured residents that security operations have been intensified across the Coast to dismantle organised criminal gangs and restore safety in affected areas.

Police have urged members of the public to cooperate with law enforcement by sharing information that can help in identifying and arresting criminals, as authorities move to contain the wave of violent crime in the region.

President William Ruto on Tuesday struck a light-hearted tone as he presided over the award of a charter to Bomet University at State House, Nairobi, joking about the famed creativity of “Mulot boys” while challenging the institution to anchor its future on innovation, relevance and academic excellence.

Ruto said the chartering of the university was part of the government’s broader commitment to decentralising higher education, expanding choice and reducing barriers to access for Kenyan students.

“As government, we are determined to bring institutions of higher learning closer to Kenyans, expand choice and reduce barriers to access,” the President said, noting that the policy was already bearing fruit.

He revealed that national university enrolment grew by 12 per cent last year, a development he said signalled growing confidence among young Kenyans in higher education as a pathway to opportunity.

The President urged universities to strengthen partnerships with industry, communities and international institutions to ensure learning remains practical, relevant and forward-looking.

“As Bomet University begins this new chapter, I challenge its leadership — the chair of council and the vice chancellor who are here — to define a strong and distinctive academic identity grounded in excellence, relevance and innovation,” Ruto said.

Drawing laughter from the audience, the President referenced the region’s reputation for ingenuity.

“I know the people around Bomet are great innovators,” he said, adding with a smile, “I know there are some people around Mulot, very creative people.”

The remark, delivered in good humour, underscored his broader call for universities to tap into local talent and ideas.

Ruto expressed hope that Bomet University would provide a platform to channel such creativity into meaningful innovations that can contribute to national development.

“I wish that this university can provide them with a platform to channel their creativity and innovation into useful, progressive innovations that can assist us to move the country forward,” he said.

He noted that Bomet County is richly endowed with agricultural potential, environmental assets and a youthful population, resources he said should inform the university’s academic focus and research agenda.

“Again, I say this out of experience — you will know when you are in Bomet,” the President said, drawing applause from leaders and guests at State House.

Ruto challenged the university to work closely with the county government and development partners to harness these strengths for both knowledge creation and practical application.

“I expect the university to harness this energy, to work closely with the county government and development partners, and to use these resources for the progress of society,” he said.

He specifically called on the institution to develop strong and impactful programmes in agriculture, environmental management and health, areas he said were critical not only to Bomet County but to the country’s broader development agenda.

The award of the charter elevates Bomet University from a constituent college established in 2017 to a fully-fledged public university, marking a major milestone in the county’s educational journey after years of planning and institutional growth.

The ceremony was attended by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Judicial Service Commission Vice Chairperson Isaac Rutto and Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala were also present.

A group of international WhatsApp users has filed a lawsuit in a United States court accusing Meta, the app’s parent company, of misleading users about the privacy of its end-to-end encryption feature.

The lawsuit, filed on January 23 in a San Francisco court, alleges that despite WhatsApp’s assurances that messages are fully protected, Meta and WhatsApp employees can still access private communications. The plaintiffs, who come from Australia, South Africa and Mexico, have described WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption as a “sham” and are seeking damages from the tech giant, according to Bloomberg.

WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption is marketed as a security measure that ensures only the sender and the recipient can read messages, with encryption keys stored solely on users’ devices. Meta has repeatedly stated that it cannot decrypt or access the content of messages sent on the platform.

However, the 51-page lawsuit challenges these claims. It alleges that Meta employees can bypass the encryption system through internal processes. According to the filing, a staff member only needs to submit a “task” to a Meta engineer explaining the reason for accessing a user’s messages. Once approved, engineers allegedly grant access via an internal tool or widget linked to a user’s unique identification number.

The plaintiffs claim that this access allows employees to view messages almost in real time, alongside unencrypted data, and without strict time limitations. The lawsuit further alleges that even messages users believe they have deleted may still be accessible through these internal systems.

Meta has strongly denied the allegations, dismissing them as “false and absurd.” The company maintains that WhatsApp’s encryption architecture prevents anyone, including Meta itself, from reading users’ private messages.

The case has reignited concerns about data privacy and transparency among major technology platforms, particularly as messaging apps increasingly promote end-to-end encryption as a guarantee of user confidentiality. If the lawsuit moves forward, it could lead to increased scrutiny of how encrypted services are implemented and managed internally.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the case underscores the growing debate over digital privacy and the trust users place in global technology companies that handle billions of private communications every day.