Celebrations to usher in the New year was cut short when revellers at a village in Kisauni, Mombasa County, were attacked by a panga-wielding gang.
Just as the residents of Kagujo village had started celebrating, a gang of about six young men armed with pangas and blunt objects descended on them.
After attacking them for almost 10 minutes, the men fled leaving five people badly injured.
On Tuesday morning the residents said their call for security to beefed in the area has fell on deaf ears.
According to 40-year-old Kahaso Kaingu, a businesswoman attacked by the gang, the young men pounced on them as they sipped traditional palm wine (mnazi) outside the house.
“We were seated outside the house preparing to usher into the New Year. No sooner had we started celebrating than a group of young people wearing masks attacked us. The hit me on the head and left me bleeding on the floor,” she said.
Good Samaritans, she said, took her to a nearby hospital where she was treated and later discharged.
“It is no longer safe here. The youths are on the loose because they attack even in broad day light. Police have done little to address the situation,” said Ms Kaingu.