Heads of departments in Kakamega County have been directed to put in place adequate security measures to curb increased theft of government equipment.
County Commissioner John Ondego raised concern that in the past year, operations in a number of offices have been paralyzed following a spike in break-in in a number of government offices at the national government County offices.
Speaking Thursday when he chaired a service delivery committee meeting, Ondego directed all heads of departments to install burglar-proof doors and windows as well as install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV’s) to curb the theft.
In a span of a year, unknown thugs have broken into offices of the National Registration Bureau, Population, Planning, Probation, National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA), Cooperatives, sub-county Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Sub-County Education offices where a number of assorted items including computers have been stolen.
A Security report presented to the meeting by the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) Stephen Kasyoki, indicated the affected offices have recorded attempted and actual break-ins.
“At the planning department, there were six attempts and four actual break-ins, at the National Registration Bureau and at the sub-county education offices there were up to four attempts and two actual break-ins respectively.
Several of the departments have in the process lost vital government information but so far, no arrests have been made.
The CCIO noted that security of many of the offices must be enhanced to curb the vice.
The County Commissioner directed the affected heads of department to put in place immediate short term security measures adding that all government departments housed in the compound will have to make collective financial contributions to put up a perimeter fence.
“We will ask the Ministry of Public Works to prepare Bills of Quantities (BQ) upon which we shall request that you talk to your seniors for funding of the perimeter wall,” he noted
The CC noted that because the offices have no perimeter wall, they can be accessed from any side hence anyone with ulterior motive can get an easy access.
Mr. Ondego also directed the officers to vet people who visit their offices by opening visitor’s books to ascertain the services they have sought
The meeting was attended by county heads of departments and Deputy County Commissioners.
By George Kaiga
