The Vihiga Sub-County committee on multi-sectoral collaboration and co-ordination on security and peace has been urged to enhance security and peace during this festive season.
Speaking today during a meeting to inaugurate the committee at DIDC hall, Vihiga Sub County DCC Linet Orina said that this committee is being formed as a follow-up on the countrywide jukwaa la usalama meetings that were spearheaded by Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen.
Orina said that peace and security start with each individual and it takes the concerted efforts of all stakeholders and partners to ensure they are enhanced and maintained.
She added that this committee should ensure they bridge local realities and national security gaps and they should stop blaming the police for insecurity cases and incidents.
“If there is peace and security at the family level, there will be peace and security at the community level and the whole nation will be peaceful and secure,” she said.
Orina called on members of the committee and residents of Vihiga Sub-County to volunteer information regarding security issues in their areas of jurisdiction, confirming that all the information will be treated as confidential and the witnesses will be protected.
She cautioned residents against forming kangaroo courts when it comes to issues of defilement, incest and gender-based violence, saying this will help weed out the crimes in Vihiga.
Sheikh Ali Ambenje commended the government for coming up with such an initiative, saying that this will help solve the problem of crime and insecurity, as all members will feel appreciated and they will each play a role in ensuring peace and security are maintained.
Ambenje called on the community to stop the blame game and complaining about police officers, saying police officers are few and they cannot be around each person but individual people can ensure they work towards maintaining peace and security.
Vihiga County Director of Social Services Christine Owano called on parents to train their children in the way they should go in a bid to curb crimes and insecurities.
Owano said with changing times parents should embrace new methods of parenting and correcting their children by using dialogue when the children are as young as three years and when they grow up, they will not depart from the right path.
She asked religious leaders to come up with activities that will keep children, teenagers and youths busy during this festive season so that they do not get involved in criminal activities.
Members of the committee have been drawn from various sectors, including civil society, transport, youth, interfaith, local peace actors, media, opinion leaders and departmental heads.
The committee is chaired by DCC Linet Orina, with Manase Lugadiru from Interfaith serving as vice chairperson. The secretary is Vihiga Sub-County Administrator Caroline Anyienda, supported by vice secretary ACC Felix Maiya. Beatrice Chadulo, an opinion leader, serves as the treasurer.
By Maureen Imbayi
