Vigilantes to be part of community policing

By Cyrus Ombati

Vigilante groups will now work with police to curb insecurity under the Community Policing programme.

While presenting the 2009/10 Budget, Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta said Government would fund youth to work closely with police in the programme.

The Government allocated a twenty-fold increase to Sh83 million to police for community policing.

Whereas some local leaders support activities of vigilantes, others like former Justice Minister Martha Karua have called on police to crack down on their activities.

But in making the announcement yesterday, Mr Uhuru seemed to tell off Ms Karua.

Vigilante groups in Kirinyaga have managed to contain the Mungiki.

The groups have been hunting down the sect’s followers and lynching them.

Yesterday’s announcement would mean the groups would be launched across the country where crime has been spiraling.

Hunting down

In Kisii, vigilante group, Sungu Sungu, has also been hunting down suspected thugs and witches and lynching them.

Sh49.9 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial Administration as compared to Sh40 billion in the last financial year.

It is unlikely the much anticipated reforms in the police force would roll out soon as massive cuts on the same were announced.