Ndaragwa town residents blocked the Nyahururu-Nyeri highways Monday to protest increased cases of burglary as 15 premises were broken into over the weekend.
Police had a hard time quelling the crowd that hurled stones accusing them of abetting crime and colluding with the criminals in the area.
Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni who was also present supported the residents in demanding that lax police officers working at the Ndaragwa police station and its surrounding police posts be transferred immediately.
“Some officers here are more familiar with bars than their duty stations. Something must be very wrong with security here if an ACK church can be broken into and yet it is next to the police station,” the MP said, regretting that the area OCS was not present to calm the residents.
Kioni warned the residents against befriending police officers to an extent of drinking together in bars.
“Criminals will take advantage of that and buy the officers beer and when they are sure the officers are drunk, they will proceed to commit crime,” he warned.
The MP warned youths engaging in criminal activities that they risked being shot by police like it happened in 2008 when the area faced similar insecurity.
Senior security personnel led by Assistant Deputy County Commissioner Teresiah Mburu and Nyandarua North OCPD Timon Odingo arrived and calmed the situation.
The residents accused some uniformed police officers of demanding bribes when they go to report matters to the police station but the OCPD denied the claims.
The residents agreed to boost their own security by forming a committee that would improve communication between the police and residents.
Last week, two incidences of carjacking along the Maili nne- Ndaragwa stretch were reported with one of the cars found abandoned a few meters from Karai police post.
Area MCA Peter Gathungu also reported to have been pursued by unknown persons at the stretch while he drove home.
By Anne Sabuni
