As the festive season approaches, residents of Kandara Sub-county have been urged to remain vigilant amid a rising wave of insecurity involving theft of motor vehicles, livestock, and farm produce.
Speaking during a community policing forum held at Muruka on Wednesday, Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Peter Maina expressed concern over the growing number of criminal incidents in the area.
He noted that the sub-county has recently witnessed an increase in car thefts, rustling, and the illegal trade in stolen coffee.
“The cows are being stolen and transported using cars probably to be delivered for slaughter; just the other day, one suspect was caught transporting stolen livestock in a Probox where angry residents set the vehicle ablaze,” the DCC revealed.
“We are continuing to hunt down all perpetrators involved in these criminal networks. Let this serve as a warning to anyone engaging in theft because your days are numbered.”
The administrator urged residents to take a proactive role in enhancing communal security by promptly reporting any suspicious activities to the nearest authorities.
He emphasized that security begins at the individual level and that public cooperation is critical to curbing crime.
“Do not leave your car parked far from where you stay,” he cautioned. “How can you comfortably sleep when your vehicle is over 400 metres away from you? Let us all take personal responsibility for our safety.”
He further advised homeowners to invest in basic security measures such as installing lights and surveillance cameras where possible, noting that criminals often take advantage of poorly lit compounds and isolated homes.
“Today we have cameras, affordable ones that will go a long way in enhancing security in your homes, invest in them and also make sure you secure your cowsheds, even by building them next to the homesteads,” he said.
Beyond motor vehicle theft and stock theft, the DCC also raised concern about the growing cases of stolen coffee and the illegal hawking of the commodity in the area.
He reminded residents that the law strictly prohibits the sale of coffee outside licensed cooperatives or processing factories.
“The law on coffee does not allow hawking or informal selling of the produce,” he stressed. “If you see anyone trying to sell coffee by the roadside or in shopping centers, report them immediately. That’s the only way we can stop this vice that is hurting our farmers and cooperative societies.”
He added that the government, through the local administration and security agencies, is intensifying operations to dismantle criminal syndicates involved in the theft and resale of coffee, scrap metal, and livestock.
“Some of these thieves steal vehicles and dismantle them for scrap metal. Others target livestock and transport them at night. We will not allow them to frustrate hardworking Kenyans,” he said.
Residents who spoke during the forum echoed the DCC’s sentiments, saying they have suffered heavy losses in recent months.
“People are losing cows, coffee, and even cars,” said Michael Kamiri. “It’s becoming too much. We need more patrols, especially at night.”
The DCC assured the public that joint security operations are ongoing in collaboration with the police, chiefs, Nyumba Kumi elders, and local community policing teams.
He also urged residents to remain calm and cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies during investigations.
“As we head to the festive season, let us remain alert and responsible; kindly report suspicious persons or movements immediately as crime thrives where people are silent.”
By Florence Kinyua
