Murang’a South Sub-county security team has introduced a raft of security measures to curb insecurity following a surge in crime and lawlessness in the area.
Rampant cases of petty crime like burglary, theft of farm produce, and animals like cows, goats and chickens have been reported.
Speaking during a public forum at Kaharati Sub location, the area Deputy County Commissioner, Gitonga Murungi, intimated that the security team had introduced a directive that required every division to maintain a register that would capture all the visitors that had come to work in the area.
This is after the residents raised concerns with the high turnover of visitors from all over the country and beyond who were working as farmhands in the area, noting that it has become increasingly difficult to trace the real perpetrators of crimes.
The hosting family will be required to report the presence of a visitor in their homestead to the community elder (nyumba kumi) member, who in turn will pass the details to the village elder and to the chief up the hierarchy of administration.
“It is paramount before hiring someone from a far-off place to do a background check on them and let them produce their identification documents for traceability,” he said.
The DCC, however, did not exonerate the residents because most of these crimes were being committed by people known to them and added that they must take responsibility by passing the information to authorities to help clean up the area.
He termed it as unfortunate and unacceptable that some parents had chosen to conceal the actions of their children by turning a blind eye to their actions, further catalysing the upsurge of crime.
“Cleaning up this area requires collective responsibility; stop hiding these children who are terrorising other residents because in the end they will turn to you; let them be corrected for a better society safe for all, he said.
On farm produce theft, the DCC also revealed that avocado traders in kiosks would be required to produce a traceability report as growers had reported massive theft of the fruit.
He assured those who would pass information of confidentiality, as none would be victimised for doing so.
“We have received complaints that people are hesitant to pass information because of being victimised, but I assure you that the information you give will be held in confidence and no one will be victimised, “he said, adding that, “Talk to us since these criminals are amongst you and are well known to you and security starts with you.”
Besides, parents were urged to ensure their children go to school because the majority of the crimes were being committed by the young people who ordinarily should be in school.
“And because these crimes are being committed by children as young as 17 years, why are they not in school?” He posed.
Murungi underscored the need for parents to guide their children by encouraging them to pursue education as the only key to the numerous doors of opportunities available worldwide.
“Let them advance more; grade 9 is not the end of learning and apart from joining the boda boda sector at that juncture, let them pursue education further,” he said.
By Florence Kinyua
