The government has beefed up security across the six Sub-Counties in Kericho County as the Christmas and New Year festivities begin.
Kericho County Commissioner Mr. Kamau Karungo has assured the public that police patrols have been intensified at all key installations and public places frequented by people during the festivities including places of worship, malls, hotels, and public transport stations.
Karungo who spoke to KNA after addressing a closed-door security meeting at the County Commissioner’s board room expressed his confidence that law and order will be maintained and offenders dealt with decisively, during the festive season.
“The security situation has been catered for and all the Sub-County Security officers led by the County Police Commander Riko Ngare have an operation order to cover the whole county in a bid to ensure tranquillity prevails as Kenyans go about their celebration activities,” said Karungo
The CC also intimated that in the security meeting, he instructed the Chiefs to work closely with the Nyumba Kumi leaders in their respective areas to avert incidents of lawlessness during the festive season.
“I urge residents of Kericho to cooperate with the security team and to volunteer any information that they may have concerning security issues in their areas especially on the ongoing crackdown on brewing and sale of illicit brews,” he said.
The CC further said during the security meeting, the multi-agency team involved in the Rapid Results Initiative against illicit and counterfeit alcohol will re-double effort in fighting against the vice, especially during this festive season.
The Rapid Results Initiative multi-agency team comprises officials from the County government, Kenya Revenue Authority, and the security forces.
“We have commended the chiefs for their efforts in fighting illicit brews and drugs within their locations however within Kericho County there is still a lot of illicit brews and we have managed to cover about 30 per cent and we still have a long way to go and we have agreed to embark on a serious operation to eradicate the brews and counterfeit alcohol,” remarked Karungo
Last week, police officers intercepted a lorry ferrying 1,100 carton boxes of contraband alcoholic products valued at Sh4.4 million along the Kericho-Litein road.
By Kibe Mburu
