Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called on security agencies in Garissa town to sustain the ongoing crackdown on knife-wielding gangs that have been terrorizing the residents of Garissa town.
The police in Garissa town have, for the past two weeks, intensified a crackdown on juvenile knife-wielding gangs following an uproar by citizens over runaway insecurity in Garissa town and its environment.
Speaking Friday in Garissa town during the launch of the second phase of the Nyota Fund program, Duale said the police should also arrest parents or relatives who go to police stations to seek the release of their children suspected to be members of the criminal gangs.
“Even if he is my brother, arrest him. The same if he is a relative to the governor or any other senior politician in Garissa, arrest them too. I can assure you none of us will come for them,” Duale said.
“We want our women traders to carry on with their small businesses without being harassed by the gangs. The Muslim faithful should go to the mosque at any time of day or night and our Christian brothers and sisters attend church services on Sunday without fear of being attacked,” Duale said.
`According to police sources, over 100 suspects have been arrested and arraigned in court since the crackdown started two weeks ago.
“The DCI should publish the images of the suspects on its social media handles for the residents to see; perhaps this will deter the criminals against engaging in crime,” he said.
`Addressing chiefs and their assistants in Garissa town last month, North Eastern regional commissioner John Otieno said that he cannot preside over a town where juvenile gangs are causing mayhem and roaming freely.
The regional commissioner instructed the County security committee to arrest and prosecute the suspected gang members.
The CS used the platform to drum up support for President William Ruto 2027 re-election bid, noting that ‘he is the first president to campaign for his re-election on a manifesto.’
Pointing out key infrastructure projects, among them the Sh1.8 billion new Tana bridge and the ongoing construction of 470 km of tarmac road under the LAPSET corridor from Lamu through Garissa to Isiolo and beyond, and the famous Isiolo, Modogashe, Wajir and Mandera road, Duale said no president has implemented such massive projects in the Northern region like President Ruto.
“Our candidate in 2027 will be President William Ruto,” he said, noting that no other candidate can match the kind of projects President Ruto has implemented and plans to implement.
By Jacob Songok
