Police posted to end illegal gun, drug menace

By OSINDE OBARE

Trans-Nzoia,Kenya:Three special police units have been deployed to Trans-Nzoia County to crack down on the sale of guns and illicit drugs.

The county has witnessed violent crime with over 15 people killed and property running into millions of shillings lost to armed criminals.

Teams from the flying squad, special crime prevention and anti-narcotics units have been posted to the county to counter the emerging security threats blamed on the use of drugs and illegal guns.

The units have also been extended to the neighbouring Bungoma and West Pokot counties where illegal trade of guns is said to be rampant.

Trans-Nzoia County Commander Lillian Okembo said police had been beefed up in the county to combat deteriorating insecurity.

“We are headed somewhere. The problem of insecurity will soon be a thing of the past. We want people to live in peace,” she told reporters at her Kitale office yesterday.

Trans-Nzoia County Commissioner, Mrs Charity Chepkong’a, blamed the escalating insecurity on drug abuse and the existence of illegal guns in the county.

For the past two weeks security agencies have held meetings to formulate strategies on curbing crime and arresting the perpetrators.

Several people, including Trans-Nzoia women representative Janet Nangabo and Kiminini politician Dr Julius Mbagaya, have reportedly fallen victim to the gang operating in the county.

A gang of four struck Mrs Nangabo’s Milimani Estate home but were repulsed by officers after the MP sought help from the local OCPD.

took sh1 million

Mbagaya and his wife were carjacked, held hostage and tortured for over eight hours before being robbed of cash and other valuables.

Kiminini MP Dr Chris Wamalwa has been pushing for the transfer of some police officers who have served in the area for over seven years. He has accused them of being involved in crime.

One recent shocking attack occurred at Muroki Market where a gang of six reigned terror on residents, killing five and stealing Sh2 million from the victims.

The gang is said to have spent over two hours breaking into the house of Fred Tindi whom they shot dead before taking away Sh1 million.

Police, who had been alerted by the local Catholic priest, Boniventure Odunga, are said to have arrived at the scene of the crime too late to save the victim.