Following increased insecurity cases in Wiyumiririe area, Laikipia Central, residents have pleaded with authorities to overhaul police officers stationed in Ngobit ward to restore peace.
They lamented that armed robbers have been attacking them especially during evening hours leaving some nursing gunshot wounds.
Speaking during a security meeting held at Jikaze Police Post in Wiyumiririe on Tuesday, residents accused the security officers based at Jikaze police post of laxity and failure to respond to distress calls on time.
“There have been many cases of insecurity in Wiyumiririe location and officers from Wiyumiririe police post once they arrest law breakers, don’t charge them, therefore we are calling on government to do a reshuffle immediately,” said Nyawira Muchiri, a resident.
She lauded Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki’s plan that will see chiefs given firearms to tame banditry attacks in insecurity prone areas.
In Laikipia Central, livestock theft has been on rise and about two weeks ago, a suspect was nabbed by villagers in Baraka area ferrying nine stolen sheep in a Toyota probox vehicle. Irate members of the public set the vehicle ablaze and handed over the suspect to Ruai police post.
Laikipia Central Deputy County Commissioner Joshua Marete vowed to deal with insecurity and urged residents to volunteer information that would help restore peace.
The DCC warned criminals that their days are numbered and added once caught they would be dealt with ruthlessly.
Laikipia governor Joshua Irungu cautioned residents against harbouring criminals and added that those terrorizing them were not from far off areas.
“You know them, they are within us and since they use motorcycles, some of the boda boda riders might know them. They are not from distant areas,” said the governor.
He said, once police reservists are recruited, he would lobby for some to be deployed in the area and pledged that his administration would remunerate them.
Irungu urged residents to form a wananchi policing committee that will work jointly with a security team to address the matter.
“We have a discussion with local leaders and insecurity will not continue under my watch. We are ready to deal with robbers and ensure you carry on your business without fear,” said Irungu.
Irungu noted that some of the inaccessible roads in Ngobit ward would be opened up to assist in security patrols and at the same time pledged to construct houses for security officers in the area.
The governor added that a police cell would also be constructed.
