Nakuru County Commissioner Dr Lyford Kibaara has directed security agencies to prefer economic sabotage charges against anyone found vandalizing public infrastructure.
The County Commissioner warned that the government will not relent in dealing firmly with individuals interfering with vital installations which support sustainable development and and the realization of international Sustainable Development Goal No. 9 on building resilient infrastructure. “These installations do not come cheap for Kenyans taxpayers,” the commissioner added.
The administrator put on notice vandals who he said were involved in destroying water supply networks, power utility equipment and road signage, saying that economic sabotage was a treasonable offence which attracted life imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Dr Kibaara expressed outrage over theft of main water supply pipes valued at millions of shillings in Rongai Sub-County and said there was need to effectively secure the country’s vital infrastructure to move Kenya towards the national development goals espoused in the Vision 2030 roadmap to transform the country into a middle-income, industrial economy.
The County Commissioner made the remarks when he addressed members of public who had turned up for the 62nd Mashujaa Day celebrations at Set-Kobor Comprehensive School in Solai Ward within Rongai Sub-County.
The administrator at the same time expressed concern over cases of defilement, incest, female genital mutilation and early pregnancies which he said were steadily rising in the Sub-County.
He at the same time decried incidents where local community members, whose daughters have been defiled, were coerced into an out of court settlement, instead of letting the law take its course.
Dr Kibaara warned chiefs and village elders against settling defilement cases through ‘Kangaroo courts’ as the process compromised justice to the disadvantage of the affected girls.
He indicated that the Kangaroo courts initiated at village level have played a role in protecting sex pests as many parents were opting for out-of-court settlements hence denying their children justice.
Kibaara regretted that there were a number of defilement cases that were going on unreported due to kangaroo courts initiated by village elders at a fee with the knowledge of some law enforcers.
“This has turned what should end up with punishment for culprits and justice for the girls into a gravy train for the elders and parents,” said Dr Kibaara.
The County Commissioner who was accompanied by Rongai Member of Parliament Mr Paul Chebor and Nakuru Deputy Governor Dr David Kones said that most of the girls were being impregnated by people well known to them and vowed that the government will harshly deal with perpetrators.
He regretted that in some rural settings, elders convene a baraza under a tree in the village to discuss the matter and at the end of it, the parent of the girl is “compensated” with as little as Sh10,000, or chicken, cows, or goats.
The Commissioner warned parents in Nakuru against taking their girls through the outlawed FGM cultural practice saying some parents take advantage of the school holiday to circumcise their daughters and instead advised them to embrace alternative rites of passage.
Dr Kibaara said the administration was vigilant to ensure no girl is taken through the retrogressive practice that interferes with their health and even education.
He assured parents that security personnel were on high alert ahead of Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations which kicks off this month October.
Kibaara said various state agencies in Nakuru including National Government Administration Agency (NGAO), National Police Service (NPS) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) were ready for the exercise to be administered by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).
Kibaara said armed security officers will be deployed in all areas where test materials will be stored, administered and when on transit.
The administrator also reminded that though a heavy presence of security officers would be deployed throughout the county during this year’s festive season as the country prepares to mark Christmas and New Year, residents should be vigilant and report to police suspicious persons and activities.
He assured residents that security personnel will be on standby round the clock during the festivities to receive information from the public.
by Esther Mwangi & Nimrod Ngui
