Police partner with boda bodas to fight crime

Police in Matungulu, Machakos County have joined hands with boda boda operators in the area to reduce crime.

Residents of Joska, Malaa and Kantafu in the subcounty have been complaining about deteriorating security for several months.

Two weeks ago, a night guard was killed and another was critically injured in the area.

Evans Mose, the Matungulu deputy OCPD, told The Nairobian over the phone that police have changed their approach to security management.

He stated that over the weekend that they met with a group of boda boda operators and agreed to work together.

Mose said after collecting information on criminal elements, they will be able to track them and monitor their activities through community policing.

He added that the operators transport many people in a day, some good and some bad, and that they have realised through their intelligence that by partnering with the operators, they will obtain a lot of information on criminals.

The deputy OCPD went on to say that they had decided to work with the operators after realising they might have vital information on crime.

He added that since the arrest of five suspects in connection with the night guard's death and the recovery of a stolen phone, robberies in the area have decreased.

"Unlike the previous two weeks, when we had reports of several houses being broken into, goods being stolen, and thugs attacking pedestrians, crime has significantly decreased this week. We have increased patrols and deployed security officers at random in various parts of Joska, Malaa, and Kantafu," Mose said.

Earlier, Koma chief Thomas Mutua convened a security meeting with residents, informing them that security officers may be forced to enforce a shoot-to-kill order on the perpetrators.

Mutua said the suspects terrorise residents from as early as 10pm and threatened that if the trend continued, he would push for a curfew to be imposed.