Ignore naysayers on Nyumba Kumi security initiative

By Machel Waikenda

In the past week, the government launched the 100 Rapid Response Initiative as a support base for the ‘Nyumba Kumi’ initiative to help fight crime.

Even though the ‘Nyumba Kumi’ concept is aimed at enhancing security among neighbours, it will also go a long way in enhancing cohesion. If we can work together to ensure we are more secure as a group, then it is also true that we can work together to bridge our differences.

Most differences between neighbours have been as a result of misconceptions and viewing each other with suspicion through stereotyping. Embracing the basic concept of ‘Nyumba Kumi’ is to ensure we know at least 10 households around our residential areas. This will help us know other people better and possibly drop stereotypes especially those that are as a result of perceived ethnic differences. A more cohesive living environment will also help us embrace a common approach on various issues such as community projects aimed at economic empowerment.

It is no secret that there is a lot of fear in our society over the rate of crime in the country but this should encourage the resolve to know each other and help out. This fear reminds us that we are all the same regardless of our tribe, creed or political affiliation. In other words, we all stand affected by the activities of criminals.

And simplistic as it sounds, knowledge and trust in our neighbour is often the difference between what is firm and secure and the threat to life, limb and property from the unknown.

Some of the activities that can help enhance the ‘Nyumba Kumi’ initiative include regular get-togethers at neighbours’ where people can share a feast.

The aim is to build person-to-person bonds that make us trust each other to pass information. Since every ‘Nyumba Kumi’ unit is supposed to have a leader, it will be easy for this person to receive information from the members and pass it on to the relevant authorities for action. This kind of communication ensures police and other security organs act only on credible information and not pranks.

It is unfortunate that some politicians, especially from the opposition, are coming out to fight this initiative even though it has recorded success in other parts of the world. It is public knowledge that Tanzania, Rwanda and even Norway have successfully implemented similar initiatives.

It is, therefore, a certified untruth that ‘Nyumba Kumi’ initiative will turn Kenya into a police state. And to quote Dale Carnegie, “Any fool can criticise, condemn, and complain — and most fools do.”

The initiative, if embraced, will go a long way to enhance security and community cohesion. No resident should cling to a false sense of privacy, but must be willing to subordinate personal desires for the good of the larger community.

The Rapid Response Initiative aims to reduce crime rate by increasing the security of citizens by 80 per cent in 100 days. For general crime, County Commissioners will spearhead profiling of hardcore criminals in the community. Activities of ex-convicts will be keenly monitored through the ‘Nyumba Kumi’ initiative and this is where you and I will play a major role.

The first rule of security is vigilance and we must know everything and everyone around us. This is the main pillar behind the ‘Nyumba Kumi’ initiative. As the President once reminded us, it will be a great betrayal for anyone of us to pretend oblivion while next door, someone is assembling bombs, hoarding illegal weapons, or detaining a kidnapped child.

We must remain vigilant; be our brothers’ keeper and help the security apparatus weed out criminals hiding in our midst. We cannot reform and remove the corrupt amongst the security officers if the public does not volunteer the relevant bodies this information.

Kenyans must learn to respect the strength in their diversity, for any community’s true power lies not in its numbers, but in the diverse skills and resources of its members. For as one sage put it “the stoutest walls are reinforced with many different materials, so the strongest groups allow differences to co-exist inside the whole. With a unified group solidly behind you, even difficult enterprises can be attempted without great risk.”

‘Nyumba Kumi’ is a brilliant concept that could render atrocities like the Westgate assault into a mere bad memory.