John Mruttu raises concern as more bhang finds way into county

Taita-Taveta, Kenya:

Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu has identified the Nairobi-Mombasa highway and the Voi-Taveta road as major conduits for couriers of hard drugs and other illegal items.

Despite police road blocks along the busy highways and intensified patrols, he said the routes have become notorious for drug trafficking. Fingers are now pointing to the police, who are being accused of turning a blind eye to the menace.

The recent arrest of four administration officers with rolls of bhang at the Makitau roadblock has been cited as proof that the police are not doing enough to curb drugs trade.

The eight bags of bhang were recovered from a Government vehicle and were escorted by armed APs to Voi town at night. The APs have since been charged in court with drug trafficking.

The Nairobi-Mombasa highway and the Voi-Taveta road are the most notorious conduits for the transportation of hard drugs and other contraband, Governor John Mruttu has said.

He said despite police road blocks along the busy highways and intensified patrols, the routes had become famous for drug trafficking.

“The main issue facing police in this county is the transportation of hard drugs, which are to blame for the rising cases of drug abuse in the region,” he said.

The governor was addressing officers from the regular and Administration police, Prisons service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service and National Youth Service (NYS) in Voi town yesterday.

MORE EFFORT

Mr Mruttu said formation of the County Policing Authority and implementation of community policing through the Nyumba Kumi initiative was the community’s way of supporting security agencies operating in the county.

The governor spoke amid growing concern that drug traffickers were colluding with security personnel to traffic drugs and other contraband.

Human rights reports have found that police officers manning highways have been openly taking bribes from motorists transporting drugs to Voi and Mombasa town, which have also come to be regarded as major distribution points for drugs.

Recently, the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) classified bhang as the most consumed drug in the county.

“Most locals use bhang and the youth risk being wiped out by the widespread use of this drug if quick measures are not taken,” warned Nacada CEO William Okedi.

Mruttu expressed his concern over the increased cases of bhang being brought into Kenya from Tanzania.

“Police should work hard to keep the vice at bay. Drug abuse among our youth has become a thorn in the flesh and we all need to do everything possible to rid the region of this threat,” he said.

The governor however praised the officers for being involved in various development projects within the region, singling out NYS officers at the camp in Mwatate who he said were engaged in community work.

“I am confident that the local community shall benefit from services offered by NYS. The Administration Police and Kenya Wildlife Service have also been involved in various community development projects,” he said

 

Present at the event, Meru Diocese Catholic Bishop Selesius Mugambi told the media to stop reporting negatively about the police force.

The cleric, who is also the chaplain in charge of the country’s uniformed disciplined forces, faulted the media for only highlighting the forces when they fail.

“When the police force does good things, the media does not give strong coverage but when it does bad, it is blown out of proportion,” he said.

The bishop challenged the media to offer balanced reporting, saying the police force had been doing a lot of good work in the country that needed to be highlighted and appreciated.

“We have been trying our best to discharge our mandate despite many challenges facing the force. The picture that is created by the media is wrong. Security agencies do take the country’s security very seriously,” he said.

ENTIRE FORCE

Mugambi also asked Kenyans and leaders not to condemn the entire security force.

However, he noted that there were a few police officers who were rotten and warned that whoever broke the law would be dealt with.

“Kenyans should have faith in their law enforcement officers and also make available information that can lead to the arrest of law breakers. They should also appreciate the work being done by police officers in the fight against crime,” he said.

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