Security agencies in Nakuru have intensified the manhunt for a hardened criminal and his two accomplices who have been targeting businesses between 8pm and 10pm using motorcycles to escape.
County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara assured residents that detectives were in hot pursuit of suspects using useful leads in the hunt for the gang that has been targeting M-Pesa shops in residential estates, particularly in Pipeline, Ndege Ndimu, Ngata, and Barnabas estates.
The Commissioner said two suspects were already in police custody and investigations have so far yielded important details.
He was speaking during celebrations to mark the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations that were held at Heroes Vocation Training College grounds within Bahati Sub-County.
The county administrator said all security personnel, including regular and administration police officers, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers, chiefs, assistant chiefs and village elders, have been put on high alert to ensure locals carry out their daily activities in a secure and peaceful environment.
“We will not give space to criminals to have a field day under the government’s watch,” the Commissioner warned.
He urged citizens to embrace their civic duty as watchdogs to help combat crime by supporting security agencies in identifying gang members.
“Work with the security agencies so that we can ensure that there’s safety and security in our country,” Dr Kibaara appealed.
The administrator also read the riot act to law enforcement officers and local administrators who allow the sale of illicit brew as well as drugs and substance abuse in their jurisdictions.
He said the use of alcoholic and narcotic substances had contributed to the rise of many forms of crime and warned that each administrator, right from the Deputy County Commissioner and Assistant County Commissioner to the chiefs and their assistants would be held personally responsible for any illicit brews and drug and substance cases reported in their jurisdiction.
The administrator said they had the full support of Governor Susan Kihika’s administration in the crackdown and called upon the public to join hands in the war against illicit trade.
“This vice has taken a toll on our health and institutions and played a major role in spreading HIV/AIDS and crime in the county,” Kibaara regretted.
He affirmed that as a Nakuru family, they had said no to the vice and were going to go out in full force as a team to ensure it is eradicated.
While outlining her administration’s achievements, Governor Kihika pointed out that she had rolled out a Sh100 million ‘Wezesha Fund’ to enable cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to access affordable credit facilities so as to expand their businesses.
Ms Kihika said her administration was banking on the construction of new markets and refurbishment of existing one to spur the region’s economic growth.
“The State Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) is constructing eighteen integrated modern markets in various trading centers in Nakuru that will cost Sh3 billion,” stated the County boss.
She added, “The County Government is also separately constructing 14 modern markets that will feature social halls, prefab stalls, market area segmentation, cold room facilities, offices, ATM lobbies, baby daycare services and primary processing facilities for value addition.
The projects will also include supporting infrastructure such as sewer, high-mast flood lights and raised water tanks, banking institutions, food courts, and modern washrooms that will be compliant with needs of persons living with disabilities.
She assured the traders that they will have a conducive working environment to do their businesses once the projects are completed.
Ms Kihika said the national government in partnership with counties was committed to improving traders’ business environment in the country.
She emphasized that the government’s investment in market infrastructure will ensure that traders at the grassroots operate in conducive environments and cut food losses.
On education, the governor disclosed that 498 Early Child Development Education ECDE teachers had been presented with their appointment letters as permanent and pensionable workers, adding that the enrollment rate now stood at 65,000 learners at 1068 ECDE centers spread across the 11 sub-counties.
The County Government, she said had unveiled a 432 million Bursary Fund and was providing Sh30,000 capitation for all students enrolled in its 40 Technical Vocational Education Training (TVETS) institutes.
Bahati Member of Parliament Ms Irene Njoki called for peaceful coexistence among communities living in the County saying that peace was a critical factor to development and urged leaders in the opposition to positively criticize the government and desist from dividing Kenyans.
“Our leaders need to respect each other and everyone should be allowed to serve this country without being stigmatized on political lines. We have all communities in Kenya living here in Nakuru and there is need for us to live in peace,” added Ms Njoki.
Nakuru Town East Member of Parliament, Mr David Gikaria, called on politicians to tone down political rhetoric in order to cool the ongoing political temperatures.
Gikaria advised the youth against being used to perpetrate acts of violence by politicians.
By Esther Mwangi and Esther Otieno
