Kisumu County Commissioner Ramadhan Mohammed Mwabudzo has directed school heads to strengthen surveillance systems in learning institutions, warning that poorly managed and faulty CCTV installations are undermining efforts to curb insecurity in schools.
Speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations at Joel Omino Secondary School in Kisumu, Mwabudzo said many schools had invested millions of shillings in security infrastructure, only for the equipment to remain underutilized or non-functional.
“In most of the institutions I have visited, you find the monitor in the principal’s office or the staff room. At what time does the principal monitor? This equipment is supposed to be in the hands of those charged with manning security in our schools,” he said.
The county commissioner directed all principals and school administrators to ensure CCTV cameras are fully operational and continuously monitored by designated security personnel.
The directive comes in the wake of the recent arson attack at Utumishi Senior School in Naivasha that claimed 16 lives.
Security experts have argued that proper monitoring of surveillance systems could have helped detect suspicious activity and prevent the tragedy.
Mwabudzo said his office would convene an urgent meeting with school heads and education stakeholders to assess the state of security infrastructure in schools across the county.
“We will also visit schools to ensure that the CCTV systems are properly installed and manned to guarantee the safety of our children,” he said.
The county commissioner, who assumed office in Kisumu last week following recent transfers in the national government administrative structure, also expressed concern over a rise in violent hit-and-run robberies in the lakeside city.
According to Mwabudzo, criminal gangs operating on motorcycles have been attacking unsuspecting residents using blunt objects and knives before robbing them of their valuables.
He cited the recent killing of the son of former Matungu MP David Were as an example of the growing threat posed by the gangs.
“This young man was a hardworking civil servant attached to Huduma Centre, but his life was cut short by these criminals,” he said.
Mwabudzo said all security agencies had been placed on high alert and tasked with dismantling the criminal networks behind the attacks.
He urged residents and members of the Nyumba Kumi initiative to work closely with security agencies by identifying and reporting suspects.
“These people live among us, and they are known. No effort will be spared until they are all apprehended and prosecuted,” he said.
The county commissioner also warned against the resurgence of goonism, even as the country gradually shifts focus to the 2027 general election.
He noted that some organised groups had become notorious for disrupting public events, including raiding catering services during funerals and other social gatherings.
“Such behaviour paints a bad image of our society and will not be tolerated,” he said.
In a message delivered on his behalf by the county Chief Officer for Roads Wilson Nindo, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o called for unity, peaceful coexistence, and protection of development gains achieved through devolution.
The governor said peace and cohesion remained critical to economic growth and social progress, warning against divisive politics and intolerance as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
Nyong’o also expressed concern over recent cases of burglary and violent crime in parts of Kisumu, urging security agencies to remain vigilant while calling on residents to help identify criminals operating within their communities.
“A secure environment is indispensable to economic growth, social stability, and public confidence,” he said.
He further cautioned politicians against sponsoring violence, saying no political ambition was worth the destruction of lives, businesses, and communities.
The Madaraka Day celebrations brought together national and county government officials, security chiefs, religious leaders, and residents from across the county.
By Chris Mahandara and Nathan Kimwetich
