As part of efforts to contribute to the local community, over thirty Nyumba Kumi community policing members from Kiahuria location in Witethie area of Thika Sub-County have benefited from a two-day community policing training organized by Zetech University at their Technology Park campus in Mangu.
The training that focused on areas such as leadership and development, conflict resolution, community policing and customer service excellence was facilitated by the School of Education, Arts and Sciences Dean Prof. Owen Ngumi in collaboration with the Assistant County Commissioner for Witethie Ms. Cecilia Mwangi and the Chief Kiahuria location, Mr. John Wainaina.
Speaking during the session Saturday, Prof. Ngumi said that community outreach and corporate social responsibility (CSR) were core functions of the school and stated that they believed in building strong resilient communities through community education programmes that fostered partnerships with local administrative outfits such as the Nyumba Kumi initiative.
“As part of the local community, we have established the needs of the community at large and have come up with unique resources and expertise needed to support the community. By working with the Nyumba Kumi members, we will apply the knowledge and skills we have to address the social, economic and environmental challenges that lead to the well-being and prosperity of this community that we live in,” said Prof. Ngumi
On her part, the Witethie ACC said that her administration team prioritized the importance of community policing and outreach, particularly in aiding to tackle rampant crime and drug abuse among the youth in the area and that failing to foster it could lead to mistrust and a breakdown of relations with the public.
“Nyumba Kumi provides a framework that anchors community policing with the household as the basic level. With this in mind we came up with this training with the aim of improving community policing efforts in the area as we want the members to understand their role in the initiative. The concept was to bring the community together in pursuit of a common ideal which is having a safe, prosperous and sustainable community,” said Ms. Mwangi.
Her sentiments were echoed by John Njuguna, a hospital administrator in the area who said that community policing, especially among the youth had greatly improved.
“Nyumba Kumi has helped in reducing the crime rate in the area with hundreds of youths now involved in the programme that has the support of the administration and religious leaders within the sub-county. The training we have received has given us the necessary tools for us to move forward with the initiative,” said Njuguna.
The training was capped off with a certificate award ceremony for the participants.
By Hellen Lunalo
