Tana River County Commissioner David Koskei has directed all chiefs, their assistants and headmen to initiate community-policing programmes and involve members of the public in fighting crime in Madogo location, Bangale Sub County.
Among the people to be included in the programme are community elders, religious leaders, youth, women leaders and the business community in the area.
The administrators will be required to map all crime hotspots, classify criminal activities for each area and forward their reports to the sub-county security committee for action.
The Madogo area has been facing a high crime rate reportedly orchestrated by a criminal gang popularly known as kayole.
Young people, some aged as low as 12 years, have been wielding knives, rungus and machetes, terrorising citizens by robbing them of their valuables and even breaking into houses.
Speaking during a public meeting on security, Koskei further warned residents against attacking police officers arresting suspects, noting that tough action will be taken against anyone who obstructs security officers from carrying out their duties.
The county commissioner reiterated that Kenya is a country of the rule of law and not a banana republic and if the residents continue to attack security officers, a General Service Unit (GSU) team will be deployed to deal with them.
“If a person commits a crime and police come to take action, woe unto you if you run into the police station to obstruct police from working. There is no difference between the suspect and you, who go to ask for suspects to be released. Keep completely off these matters or you will be arrested too,” Koskei said.
“I have heard that when a person is arrested, you all go to the station to demand their release because they are your people. A criminal is a criminal, if you want to help them, let them go to prison and in a few years, they will have reformed,” he added.
The county security team has also, with immediate effect, banned scrap metal businesses and activities, which are said to be fuelling crime in Madago.
Other measures announced to tame crime include mopping up all street children and arresting their parents for child neglect.
By Erick Kyalo
