A beloved Kenyan deejay known as DJ Elvis was brutally attacked and killed by the notorious Panga Boys machete-wielding gang in the coastal region, sparking fresh outrage over insecurity just days after a controversial shoot-to-kill directive was publicly associated with the group.
The tragic incident occurred on the night of Sunday, February 15, when DJ Elvis was heading home from a club engagement, according to social media posts that first brought the news to light.
A random netizen shared details on the popular Diani Whatsup Facebook group, quickly trending as details emerged of how the entertainer’s life was cut short.
Eyewitnesses say the deejay was ambushed by members of the Panga Boys, a gang that has infiltrated parts of the Coast region and terrorised residents with violent robberies, especially at night.
The assailants reportedly surrounded DJ Elvis, stole his belongings, inflicted grievous injuries with machetes, and left him for dead by the roadside.
He later succumbed to his injuries.
The killing comes amid heightened alarm over the activities of the Panga Boys and similar groups along the Coast, where residents from Mombasa to Kilifi and Kwale counties have endured a surge in machete-related robberies, assaults and intimidation for months.
In some recent cases, CCTV footage circulated online has shown gang members attacking lone pedestrians and shop attendants before fleeing with phones and cash, prompting fear across communities.
Just days before DJ Elvis’s death, the Coast Regional Police Commander, Ali Nuno, made headlines for a stern warning to the marauding gangs.
In early February, he was widely reported, especially on social platforms to have issued a shoot-to-kill order authorising officers to use firearms against machete-armed criminals who pose imminent threats to life, telling youths to “desist and accept salvation or leave the entire Coast region.”
That directive was defended by some as necessary to curb the gang menace, but also drew swift condemnation from rights groups, who argued that a blanket “shoot-to-kill” approach would violate constitutional protections and could lead to unlawful killings.
Police leadership later sought to clarify the stance, with the regional commander saying the force would use necessary and proportionate force under the law, but denied ever issuing an outright order to execute suspects without due process.
The deadly attack on DJ Elvis underscores the grave security challenges facing the Coast region, where youth gangs, often armed with crude weapons like pangas, have exploited gaps in policing to carry out violent robberies and assaults on both locals and visitors alike.
Law enforcement agencies have conducted major crackdowns, arresting dozens of suspected gang members in prior operations, but the threat persists.
The loss of DJ Elvis, a figure admired for his contributions to the local entertainment scene, has reignited calls from community leaders and ordinary Kenyans for urgent and effective action to restore safety, protect citizens, and prevent further loss of life at the hands of criminal gangs.
As the investigation into his death continues, many are left asking whether stronger security measures can truly curb the rising tide of violence without sacrificing legal norms and human rights.
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