Mombasa County Commissioner Mohammed Noor has announced the mandatory registration of tuk-tuks into SACCOs by January to curb rising thefts linked to the sector.
With over 15,000 tuk-tuks in Mombasa providing affordable transport and creating jobs, he emphasised that the move aims to restore discipline and weed out rogue operators tarnishing the industry’s reputation. The SACCO system, he noted, will streamline operations, enhance customer confidence, and ensure troublemakers are dealt with by the relevant authorities.
Speaking at a Training for Sub-Counties Peace Committee hosted by the Kenya Peace and Security Support Initiative (KEPSSI) in partnership with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in Mombasa, the county commissioner reiterated that the Saccos will streamline the sector and restore discipline, ensuring that the rogue ones are dealt with much like how NTSA suspends the matatus which cause reckless accidents.
In attendance at the Training were stakeholders, including village elders, sub-county peace committee members, and various grassroots leaders who had convened to discuss security, harmony, and peace-building issues.
During the meeting, the Commissioner emphasised the importance of creating a conducive environment for everyone, noting that collaboration among local leaders and the community is key to fostering lasting peace and understanding in the region.
Noor also emphasised the importance of addressing the escalating security concerns in the Coast region, which are largely attributed to youth involvement. He highlighted the need for proactive measures to tackle these challenges.
Tony Kibwana, the Security Services Manager, speaking on behalf of his boss, the MD, KPA, Captain William Ruto, noted that the collaboration is aimed at ensuring support for peace initiatives in Mombasa.
He mentioned that KPA has been involved in various projects to support the youth, such as sports programs. He highlighted that in sports, they have a football team with four categories: Bandari A, Under 15, Under 21 Youth, and Bandari Queens, along with basketball and volleyball teams. These initiatives, he said, are part of their efforts to engage and uplift the youth in the community.
He also mentioned that through initiatives like these, they are deeply involved in corporate social investment.
The Chairman of KEPSSI, Ibrahim Ng’ang’a, applauded the continuous support from KPA as he acknowledged the presence of all the representatives of the 6 sub-counties in Mombasa at the training.
Ng’ang’a said that they aim to provide the representatives with educational refreshments to ensure they are up to date with new strategies and methods for building more peace in the community.
He highlighted that one of the main challenges at the grassroots level is the involvement of youth in criminal activities. He claimed that some of these young people, as young as 10 years old, are students who, after school, engage in crime. Addressing this issue, he emphasised the importance of providing alternative activities and education to steer them away from criminal behaviour.
“We plan that after these committee meetings, we will seek ways to hold meetings with school and parent committees to identify where the issues lie. This is because we face the challenge that when we take these young criminals to court, magistrates often tell us that they are too young to be prosecuted. They are then sent to juvenile rehabilitation centres, but some even escape. This highlights the need for a more effective approach to address the root causes of youth crime and prevent repeat offences,” he said.
He added that most of the youths are known by the community at a personal level, but it is now important to engage with their parents to understand where the problem lies.
He pointed out that many of these young people are raised by single parents or even grandparents, and in such situations, children often lack the guidance they need. As a result, they are left with little direction and are more likely to get involved in activities that are harmful and lack purpose.
Irene Randu, Peace Chair Kisauni Sub-County, noted that maintaining peace is a process that needs all hands on board to strengthen it.
“The shocking trend today is that criminals are mostly youth, and this is deeply troubling. Dysfunctional families, frequent divorces, and broken homes are traumatising children, Randu said.
Additionally, she noted that dropping out of school and economic challenges are contributing factors that lead to the rising cases of insecurity among the youth. These issues create a vicious cycle, where young people, lacking proper support and opportunities, turn to crime as a means of coping with their struggles.
Randu emphasised that addressing these underlying problems is crucial to curbing youth involvement in criminal activities.
However, she highlighted that efforts are being made to change the approach by actively involving the youth in decision-making within the community. This includes integrating them into various meetings, allowing them to have a voice in the processes that affect them.
She applauded the fact that the youth are now attending peace committee meetings, seeing this as a significant step forward. She emphasised that this engagement is vital for fostering a sense of responsibility and ownership among the youth, ensuring they play an active role in creating a peaceful and secure environment for everyone.
By Fatma Said
