The Mombasa Republican is gaining ground in Kilifi county.
Kaloleni divisional police commander (OCPD) Kennedy Osando stated that they received information on May 9 about 60 youths who had converged inside Kaya Jibana Forest in Mulola.
“We believe they gathered for preparations to commit a crime. They were all armed with crude weapons and well-sharpened machetes,”
“Some were still sharpening the pangas while others danced to music, signs of high spirits.”
Police challenged the youths to surrender but they defied the order, so they opened fire and charged towards them in an attempt to make arrests.
“They dashed into the forest leaving behind 10 sharp machetes. Since it was dark we could not do patrol clearance,” Mr Osando said.
“We withdrew and very early on Friday (May 10), we went back to the scene and cleared it. We gathered some of the crude weapons, machetes, bows and arrows that had been left behind,” the OCPD added.
He said they arrested two of the youths and an old man they believed was their witch doctor.
“These people were prepared; they were in a training camp, ready to commit crimes against humanity.”
Mr Osando appealed to the public to report any persons seeking treatment for gunshot wounds as some of the youths were likely shot in the process of fleeing.