Locals adopt community policing to curb crimes in flash points areas in Nakuru estates

Irate locals demolish temporary kiosks at Bodneni slum estate in Nakuru suspected to be hiding place of criminal gangs after a 35 year old woman was found killed and abandoned in one of the kiosks. AUGUST 11, 2018. [PHOTO: MERCY KAHENDA/STANDARD]

President Uhuru Kenyatta is on record advising Kenyans on matters security. The advice was well received by a section of locals in Nakuru who are embracing community policing to curb crime.

Ambrose Oyugi, the chairman of community policing in Nakuru Town West, says fighting insecurity by involving locals has helped restore sanity in estates that were hitherto uninhabitable.

Kaptembwo, Rhonda, Shabab, Nakuru Town West and Mwariki estates have been reporting high cases of insecurity.

In Kaptembwo, major crimes in the past have been theft, mugging, rape and defilement.

“I am happy that traders are free to transact their businesses in various estates. In the past, landlords had no tenants because people feared being attacked by criminals,” Oyugi says.

He adds that community policing involves the youth, some of whom were members of criminal gangs that would attack, terrorise and steal from tenants and business people.

“The community decided to come together to help eliminate criminals. And surprisingly, we realised individuals involved were well known, this easily helped us combat crime,” he says.

Timothy Kiprop, 28, a resident of Kaptembwo, is a victim of the criminal gangs.

Kiprop says he was heading home from seeing a friend at Shabab estate when three men on a motorcycle attacked him. That was two months ago.

He sustained injuries on his limbs, and was rescued by passersby who took him to his house.

“Criminals here ruthlessly attack people on the road, demanding money, and those who do not have are beaten up,” he says.

In March, two newly appointed police officers were attacked by criminals masquerading as boda boda operators in Nakuru town.

The officers, Oliver Wafula and Ann Naliaka were driven to Kaptembwo where they were brutally attacked and robbed before being abandoned at a quarry.

Rhonda estate also reports cases of robberies, while Shabab tops in cases of drug abuse and illicit brew consumption.

Mwariki estate, that borders Lake Nakuru National Park records high cases of gender-based violence.

According to Oyugi, who is also a champion against gender-based violence and sex offences, the sub-county still records cases of defilement and rape, even with reduced cases of insecurity.

At least 10 cases of defilement are reported in Kaptembwo every month, committed mostly by close relatives, friends and neighbours to the victims, he says.

“It is worrying that despite sensitising locals on the Sexual Offences Act, we still have high cases of defilement, and shockingly, committed by close relatives,” says the chairman.

Ndarugu and Hilton estates also report high cases of sale and consumption of illicit brew.

As the festive season approached, community policing officials were on alert to curb cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), mostly reported in Barut, Kiptenden and Kapkures areas.

“FGM is rampart during the festive season, and together with local administrators, we are working together to curb the vice,” Oyugi says.

Areas considered safe in the sub-county include Milimani and Technology, commonly known as jobless corners. Oyugi says the estates report low cases of crime.

In Nakuru Town East, at Kinshasa area in Lakeview estate, there is new trend of crime where individuals conceal weapons like knives in gumboots.

“Here, people wear gumboots in all seasons,” says Nakuru Town East community policing chairman Ibrahim Ogeto.

In June last year, at least four cases of attack by knives were reported in the estate.

“Be careful when interacting with individuals in gumboots. They conceal weapons that they use to commit crimes,” Ogeto says.

Other crimes committed in the estate include mugging, burglary and sale of drugs and illicit brew. In September last year, eight cases of mugging and 10 of burglary were