Majengo, a neighbourhood in Mombasa long associated with crime, drug abuse, and juvenile gangs, is taking a bold step toward transformation. Residents have come together to form the Majengo Community Organisation (MCO), a group aimed at reclaiming the area’s identity and offering the youth a positive path forward.
The initiative gained momentum following a successful community-led campaign to protect Ziwani Lasco, a historic playground, from land grabbing. This ground has a deep-rooted legacy, having nurtured football greats like Harambee Stars goalkeepers Mahmoud Abbas and Mohamed Magogo. Its attempted loss sparked a renewed sense of unity among the locals.
MCO chairman Abdalla Ibrahim said the organisation aims to steer young people away from violence and crime by showing them that success is achievable through education, discipline, and mentorship.
“There are doctors, lawyers, architects, and engineers from Majengo. They grew up in the same environment. That means change is possible,” Ibrahim said.
Vice chairperson Shabir Nurdin emphasized the need for community independence. “We can’t always wait for the government. As a community, we must own our problems and solutions,” he said, calling on residents of other neighbourhoods like Old Town, Tudor, Kisauni, and Bamburi to adopt similar initiatives.
Tudor MCA Samir Bhaloo praised the initiative, urging other areas to follow Majengo’s example of grassroots leadership. Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, himself a Majengo native, pledged support for MCO, calling the community’s actions “a great example of structured problem-solving.”
The governor acknowledged the urgent need to preserve open spaces like playgrounds. “Many playgrounds in Mombasa have been grabbed or are under threat. Without these spaces, children feel unheard and unseen, leading them to the streets,” he warned.
Mombasa currently has the highest number of juvenile gangs in the country 73 out of 309 nationwide. The success of MCO could mark a turning point in community-led interventions that not only restore public spaces but also restore hope.
With unity, Majengo is rewriting its story one youth at a time.
