Thread by @Wambingwa_

The UNTOLD STORY of Mohammed Mahsen, (Dogo Presoo)

The former Leader of the TMK Gang — Most Wanted Criminal & Mafia Gang in Mombasa.

[ THREAD ]
🧵🧵...

Mombasa, renowned as a top tourist destination, boasts stunning beaches, delectable cuisine, and unforgettable nightlife experiences.

Yet, this vibrant port city has also faced challenges, with gang-related turf wars casting shadows over its charm.

In early 2016, in Old Town—a neighborhood steeped in history and home to the iconic Fort Jesus—a group of young men banded together to form a gang.

Known as TMK (Temeke Wanaume), they started as childhood friends united by their love of football but later evolved into a feared group of ruthless criminals.

At the helm of the TMK Gang was Mohammed Mahsen, better known as Dogo Presoo—a 21-year-old native of Old Town's Kibokoni area.

During his childhood, he found joy in swimming in the Indian Ocean and playing beach football. These pastimes not only shaped his early years but also forged friendships with peers who would eventually join him in forming the notorious TMK Gang.

Dogo Presoo appointed his closest allies, including Bobocha, Shafir, and Ameto, as key leaders of the gang. Initially, the group claimed their mission was to protect their Kibokoni neighborhood from rival gangs in Majengo, acting as a kind of vigilante force.

However, what began as a self-proclaimed defense unit quickly devolved into a group notorious for terrorizing innocent Kenyans.

The shift in their behavior was fueled by days spent smoking weed and popping Rohypnol pills along the beach. Unemployed and confined to their neighborhood out of fear of attacks from rival gangs in other areas, they found themselves with little to do.

During these drug-fueled gatherings, their conversations often revolved around rival gangs, further stoking tensions and laying the groundwork for their descent into criminality.

Their drug of choice, Rohypnol, is a small blue tablet priced at Ksh 850. Often slipped under the tongue like candy, it’s typically prescribed to those with mental health conditions for its calming effects.

However, for a regular user, it delivers an addictive, drowsy "high" that quickly takes hold. One telltale sign of indulgence? A striking blue-stained tongue left behind after each dose.

Fueled by their growing drug habit, the gang began arming themselves. Unlike Nairobi's gun-wielding crews, Dogo Presoo opted for sharp pangas as their weapons of choice.

Embracing their menacing image, he boldly showcased their arsenal online, posting photos with pangas to flaunt his fearlessness. To solidify their identity, he even designed a gang logo featuring a menacing axe.

The tension escalated as they launched an online feud with the Floropa Gang from Majengo—a group of young men who, much like them, had evolved from childhood friends into hardened criminals due to their drug use.

The Floropa gang retaliated by flaunting their own weapons online, declaring their loyalty to their turf and warning any rivals not to step foot in their area.

The tipping point came with the mysterious death of Floropa gang member Wesoo. On August 12th, 2016, during a wedding in Old Town, Wesoo was brutally hacked to death by unknown assailants. Despite the ambiguity surrounding the killer’s identity, the Floropa gang quickly pinned the blame on TMK, sparking a violent declaration of war between the two groups.

Wesoo's death was the tragic climax of a series of violent gang attacks that had been plaguing night weddings. In response to the escalating unrest, Mombasa's police chief took action, issuing a ban on night weddings starting August 16. The measure was aimed at curbing the growing insecurity and restoring some semblance of order in the city.

In early November, fueled by anger over the death of their comrade, the Floropa gang launched a retaliatory attack. This sparked a fierce response from Dogo Presoo, who vowed to track down their leader, Fakii Ropa.

Determined to make his threat known, Dogo Presoo sent a chilling warning to Fakii via WhatsApp and then shared it online for everyone to see, marking the beginning of an escalating war between the two gangs.

Two days later, Dogo Presoo went on a rampage, venting his fury across social media. In three separate posts, he issued chilling warnings of an impending attack, boldly claiming that he was out for their heads.

It was a wild and unsettling declaration—crazy, yet all too real.

Dogo Presoo dismissed any attempts at peace, even from members of the Floropa gang who were clearly rattled by his threats. Like a relentless predator, he refused to back down.

He taunted them mercilessly, calling them cowards and showing no signs of hesitation in escalating the conflict.

With the escalating online tensions between the gangs, the police, aware of the looming threat, acted swiftly to prevent further violence. On the very same day that Dogo Presoo issued his threats, authorities arrested four key members of the TMK Gang: Bobocha, Ameto, Ismail, and Swale.

During the raid, the police recovered a fake pistol, marijuana, and machetes. However, the arrested men vehemently denied having any of the items in their possession.

On December 1, 2016, just two days after his gang members were arrested, Dogo Presoo posted what would be his final, chilling threat to his rivals. He made it clear that there was no backing down. Since the Floropa Gang had yet to step into his territory, he declared his intention to ambush them in their own homes in Majengo.

As promised, during the festive season, Dogo Presoo led his TMK gang into Majengo, intent on launching a full-scale attack on the Floropa Gang. They filmed themselves as they marched through the area, armed with pangas, prepared to strike anyone who crossed their path.

Sadly, the gang encountered an innocent young man who they overpowered and brutally attacked. They recorded the horrific scene, and Dogo Presoo, without hesitation, uploaded the video to his Facebook account, with a brazen caption.

The brutal attack marked a turning point, forcing law enforcement to take the situation seriously as it escalated into a deadly threat.

Dogo Presoo, after retreating to his hideout in Old Town, resurfaced online on February 1, 2017. He boldly posted that the TMK gang would not relent and would continue their attacks on the Floropa Gang.

The tension would play lowkey until April 1, 2017, when the TMK gang struck again, this time targeting an MPESA shop owner in Old Town during the early hours of the morning.

Three gang members were captured on CCTV, brandishing a panga as they stole Sh 100,000 in cash and thousands of shillings worth of airtime.

Weeks later, on May 1st, investigators completed their probe into the MPESA shop robbery and publicly released the images of the entire TMK gang on the Most Wanted List.

At the top of the list was their leader, Dogo Presoo, followed by notorious members like Ameto and Bobocha, who had been previously arrested but were now once again linked to the escalating criminal activities.

On June 25th, 2017, Bobocha, unfazed by his spot on The Most Wanted list, resurfaced and attacked a man at Madobini. He stabbed the victim and stole his phone.

However, as he tried to flee, he was recognised by a group of angry citizens who had seen his face on the list. A mob quickly cornered him, and in a violent act of retribution, he was beaten to death.

Before his death, Bobocha had posted a chilling photo, detailing how he and his gang planned to terrorize innocent residents. His brutal end served as a bitter taste of karma, a reminder of the violence he had inflicted on others.

On the very night Bobocha was killed, the police launched a swift operation, raiding a hideout and capturing five criminals. The suspects were found armed with crude weapons, further exposing the danger they posed to the community.

Bobocha's death struck a heavy blow to the TMK gang. As a high-ranking member, his loss was deeply felt, particularly by his girlfriend, who took to Facebook to mourn him and vow revenge.

And, to be honest, she was absolutely stunning—her fiery post adding another layer of intensity to the already volatile situation.

The escalating manhunt for the TMK gang left Dogo Presoo shaken. Realizing that the police were closing in, he knew it was only a matter of time before he was caught. In a surprising turn, he surrendered to the authorities, accompanied by civil rights groups and MP Abdulswamad.

During his surrender, Dogo Presoo claimed that the attacks he carried out were acts of self-defense, attempting to justify his violent actions in the face of mounting evidence.

MP Abdulswamad, who is now the Governor of Mombasa, took a bold step by promising to mediate and bring the warring gangs together, seeking a path to peace. As part of this effort, he helped secure their temporary release from the authorities, hoping to create a space for dialogue and resolve the escalating violence.

On July 20, 2017, Dogo Presoo was once again arrested after citizens voiced complaints about his actions. However, he was quickly released on a Ksh 15,000 cash bail, with the court allowing him to await trial while out on bail.

"Afanye kesi akiwa nje" (Let him face the case while outside).

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