The Nakuru County Commissioner (CC), Erastus Mbui has cautioned administrators against lethargy in the fight against proliferating criminal gangs in Nakuru town, saying lenient officers will face stern disciplinary action.
Mbui said area administrators must cooperate with community in security management in the region to exterminate criminals operating a notorious extortion ring dubbed ‘Confirm’ that is swindling unsuspecting citizens of their money through mobile phone money transfer services.
The CC’s sentiments follow days of mounting discontent among residents of Nakuru town, over a rise in incidents of people losing money saved on their MPESA accounts to fraudsters in the clandestine racket.
Speaking at a Public Baraza at Kivumbini in Nakuru town, Mbui noted that uncommitted administrators were hindering the spirited bid against organized crimes and called on citizens to exercise vigilance and reveal such officers.
The CC who is also Chairman of the Nakuru County Security Committee`s directed chiefs and their assistants in Nakuru Town East and West to give daily progress reports on illicit brews, drugs, robberies and arrests
Mbui warned that chiefs whose areas of jurisdiction will be found to have such cases will be held responsible.
He used the occasion to appeal to parents to enroll jobless youth without skills to local vocational centers to acquire skills that he said will improve their employment prospects and help minimize crime in the area.
The CC observed that the National and County governments have adequately equipped the institutions with a view to empowering youth with skills that they can use to power the country`s development vision, while they improve their livelihoods.
The Nakuru County Police Commander (CPC), Stephen Matu warned Mobile cash transfer agents against embroiling themselves in the vicious racket, saying police are already investigating some suspected agents deemed to be facilitating criminal activities of the gang members.
“Police have obtained crucial leads and have launched investigations against some Mobile cash transfer agents suspected to be facilitating the gangs in their criminal activities. They will be dealt with firmly once there is evidence of their involvement,” Matu said.
He said police are also probing reports of individuals bailing out suspected gang members in police custody.
Early this year, Police in Nakuru arrested 26 men aged between 23 and 35 in connection with extorting members of the public in the guise of having misdirected money to their MPESA accounts.
The suspects provided police with leads to masterminds of the cartels who are now reported to be at large.
The Police boss said temporary police redeployment across the county will help sustain weeks of a crackdown against outlawed gangs and other forms of crime to make the town secure and conducive for meaningful development.
At the same time, he warned police against using government vehicles to collect bribes, saying this is tantamount to abuse of office and corruption crimes that attract disciplinary action.
Matu appealed to members of the public to notify his office about any incident of abuse of police vehicles for timely action.
He expressed concern over criminals operating as bodaboda operators and terrorizing residents within sections of Nakuru town.
The CPC said the security and intelligence committee is planning a security management forum with bodaboda operators in the county, with a view of seeking practical ways of unmasking criminals that have infiltrated the sector.
By Anne Mwale/Dennis Rasto
