Police, leaders in blame game over Nyeri crime

By MURIMI MWANGI and LYDIAH NYAWIRA

Residents of Nyeri town are living in fear as criminals appear to have taken over the area that until recently was considered a safe haven.

Coming at a time when the Nyeri County Government is trying to woo investors, even leaders are worried.

The runaway crime has sent panic among residents who feel the police are doing little to protect them and their property.

There have been increased cases of muggings within the town – some happening as early as 7pm. Burglaries (even during the day) have become common in a number of estates. The most affected are Skuta, Ruring’u, Kamakwa and recently Ring Road – an upper class suburb.

But even with the soaring levels of crime in the town, security officers  have been trading accusations and pointing fingers at each other.

Residents, police officers and politicians interviewed by The Standard on Sunday ­­had somebody to point a finger at.

And with the rising insecurity, criminal gangs have devised tactics to dodge security personnel.

The Standard on Sunday has established that some gangs masquerade as boda boda operators to rob unknowing passengers especially at night.

Unlike in the past when pickpockets and muggers would escape on foot, muggers are now said to flee on boda bodas. Getaway motorbikes have their registration number plates tactfully concealed.

A number of night-time boda bodas have their number plates folded up so that from a distance, one can only see the alphabetical part of the registration numbers. Others have their rear light disabled so that the number plate cannot be seen, unless illuminated from behind.

In the past month, police records show that house break-ins and robberies have doubled.

“We get at least two reports daily. The situation is very worrying,” said a police officer at Central police station.

But Nyeri Town Boda Boda Association Secretary Francis Muchemi says legitimate boda boda operators are registered by the group and adhere to the group’s code of conduct.

“We know each other and if anyone commits a crime, we are the first to turn him in because this is our only source of livelihood,” he said.

Muchemi claims that those responsible for the criminal activities in the town are motorbike owners who refused to join the association.

“They buy motorbikes, keep them hidden and use them to commit crimes at night,” he says.

  Sleeping on the job

A resident mugged in town recently by people who escaped on a boda boda and whose house at Skuta was broken into a week later, narrated his disappointment with the police.

“I am just one among the many people who are suffering silently because the security personnel in this town are sleeping on their job,” he said.

He said the robbers broke through his estate’s metallic gate before cutting through window grills and breaking into his house.

Margaret Nyathogora, a prominent Nyeri businesswoman was recently robbed at gunpoint by a gang of four. Her family was held hostage for  six hours.

“It was very disheartening to see that the officers we called for help had to walk all the way from town to the estate to answer our distress call,” she said. 

Nyeri County Police Commander Agnes Lihabi, however, defend her officers over allegations that their laxity has perpetuated crime.

She said they have adequate facilities and blamed residents for not reporting robberies on time.

“We have enough vehicles to conduct patrols and respond to distress calls. We cannot be everywhere at a go but we get to a crime scene  as fast as possible,” said Lihabi.

A police officer accused politicians for interfering in their work.

The officer said some politicians demand the release of suspects before they are arraigned in court.

 Security board

Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe blamed the surge in crime to economic hardships and dismissed recommendations that the operators be put under curfew to work only during the day.

“It is not the boda boda operators’ fault that criminals are using motorbikes to commit crimes. When cars are used in robberies we do not prevent their owners from using them,” he said.

Kagwe said they are in the process of forming a county security board which will help tackle the unique crimes being committed in the county.

“We need ex-service officers on our security board because they are trained in security issues and they are willing to help,” he said.

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua says the proposed board will provide a much-needed link between the residents and the police.

“We want to engage civilians on this board to give the police the necessary local support to fight crime in the town,” he said.

Gachagua said the county will purchase four state of the art vehicles to boost police services.

Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi accused the county government of not creating employment opportunities for the youth.

 Ms Murugi said without jobs, the youth will  turn to crime.

 “If indeed Nyeri County received more than Sh3 billion in funding, there needs to be a sign that the money is being appropriately spent for job creation,” she said.

Murugi, however, refuted allegations that insecurity is on the rise in her constituency and that Nyeri town is under siege of criminal gangs.