Leaders and the local community from Kajiado North Sub-County on Thursday held a day-long meeting to address and discuss security matters following protests that were held on June 25 that had seen businesses premises destroyed.
Held at Beacon of Hope in Ongata Rongai and chaired by the Ngong Assistant County Commissioner, Metrin Matingi, various leaders called for an increase in police personnel in the area.
Onesmus Ngogoyo, the MP for Kajiado North, said that the police-to-population ratio in Rongai was too low and thus overwhelmed by demonstrators.
Ongata Rongai was one of the areas that the protests immensely affected, with a lot of business premises destroyed, cars vandalized, and lives lost.
“As much as the holding of peaceful protests is stipulated in the constitution, people are not allowed to take part in protests in areas where they don’t belong,” said Ngogoyo.
Titoh Matheka, the MCA of Ongata Rongai, added that destructive protests are not allowed in the country.
“As leaders we will collaborate with the community leaders to make sure that protests are peaceful,” concluded Matheka.
Steven Ngatho, the MCA of Olkeri ward, urged the police to restrain from using excessive force while quelling demonstrations.
Tom Achiya, the Sub-County police commander of Kajiado North, talked about the hardships they went through while trying to control protestors on the D-day and condemned the looting of businesses and destruction of people’s property.
“We condemn the looting of businesses and vandalising people’s property, and there is a need to investigate the matter further. I want to further urge the protestors to shun from destroying properties and vandalizing peoples hardly owned property”, he said
Achiya promised to enhance security during protests and advised people to protest in places where they will not interfere with other people’s businesses.
Bishop Henry Omae, the co-chair of the peace committee of Kajiado North, called for peaceful coexistence in the country and urged the government to come up with mechanisms for solving conflicts.
The private security sector, who also participated in the meeting, advised the youths to go for training to improve their chances of employment as a way of reducing the high levels of unemployment in Ongata Rongai.
The business owners and matatu owners’ association expressed their sorrow for the loss they experienced and requested the MP, MCAs, and law enforcers to protect their businesses during protests.
They also urged the MP from the area to hold more security forums to express their grievances and concerns.
Dennis Kariuki, a representative of institutions of higher learning in Ongata Rongai, urged university and college students to carry themselves with decorum when airing their grievances or even participating in the protests.
“We know some of the reasons young people are participating in protests is because they are unemployed, but even as they call for their issues to be addressed, let it be done in a sober manner,” he said
In attendance were the Member of Parliament for Kajiado, Onesmus Ngogoyo; the member of county assembly of Ongata Rongai, Titoh Matheka; the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Olkeri Ward, Steven Ngatho; the sub-county police commander of Kajiado North, Tom Achiya; the OCS of Ongata Rongai, Duncan Mwangi; chiefs from Kajiado North; business owners; members of the matatu owners’ association; youths; and members of Ongata Rongai.
By Lizzie Auma
