By ERIC LUNGAI
Vihiga County: Leaders in Vihiga have condemned the region’s rising cases of insecurity and blamed various State agents for not doing enough to ensure security.
Led by Governor Moses Akaranga, Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu and Central Maragoli Ward Representative Abdalla Chogo, the leaders said the region has become prone to incessant insecurity and residents are living in fear.
“We highly condemn the cases of insecurity reported. The increased insecurity should be curbed at whatever cost for our people to stop living in fear,” said Akaranga.
Chanzu accused the police of abetting insecurity by either releasing suspects before they face justice or doing too little to investigate their cases and prosecute them.
He also claimed some of the marauding thugs had ‘connections’ with security agents and that was why “they are released from custody before they are taken to court”.
Chanzu said for police to avert cases of residents lynching suspects, they must demonstrate considerable effort in averting crime and ensuring security.
“There is no need of handing a thug to the police who later releases him and he comes to steal again. The law of the jungle may have to help in these cases,” he said.
Chanzu was speaking after visiting a woman who was badly injured by thugs who attacked her at her home in Matsigulu village, a few metres from his home.
The thugs raided her home at around 7pm while her husband was in their shop.
Chogo claimed the police have proved unable to defend residents in the region and should ask for reinforcement since insecurity cannot be ignored anymore.
“Some of the police officers in this region need to be transferred because they have overstayed in their stations and thus collude with thugs who have known them for long,” he said.
He blamed the Administration for not finding a permanent solution to insecurity in the region.
