Bamburi residents oppose directive to close down clubs and blame police on rising insecurity

Residents of Bamburi have opposed the directive by Coast Region Coordinator Bernard Leparmarai to close down clubs on security grounds.

The residents claim there is no link between clubs and the increased attacks by machete-welding gangs. They have instead have accused police of laxity in fighting crime.

The residents, in an interview with The Standard on Wednesday night, accused police of laxity in fighting increased insecurity that has left multiple people killed and others maimed in the past few months.

The residents of Bamburi and Kisauni said police were not patrolling deep into the slums to flash out the gangs.

In a couple of past weeks, several people have been stabbed to death and others left nursing deep wounds after being attacked by the ruthless gangs that rob their victims of their valuables and money.

Regulate joints

On Jamhuri Day, Mr Leparmarai said the increase of clubs in Bamburi was a contributing factor to insecurity and asked that they be closed down.

He called for regulation of entertainment joints in terms of issuing licences.

The coordinator said Bamburi and Kisauni residents stopped sleeping because of the clubs that had attracted criminals.

Wiily Musili, a bar owner at Bamburi, said there was no problem with clubs operating at night.

Mr Musili said the increase in the activities of the gangs could be linked to politics, where a certain figure wants to show that he has muscle regardless of being out of Government.

“I think this insecurity is all about politics. There is someone who is trying to show that he has power and that his removal from power was a mistake,” said Musili.

Geroge Okal, a businessman, said closing down clubs would only increase insecurity.

Okal said the clubs were a source of livelihood for many families.

John Mwanjala, who was slashed on the head and robbed of his valuables, said those involved in crime were youths with no job or means to fend for themselves.

Mwanjala said police had failed to arrest suspects.