Security agencies in Likoni subcounty, Mombasa, have refuted reports of increased criminal activities in the area.
Led by deputy county commissioner Mathew Wambugu, they have downplayed recent photos that have been doing rounds on social media depicting high levels of insecurity.
Wambugu reiterated that Likoni is safe and urged residents and visitors to ignore any contrary reports.
“Somebody has gone to the archives and picked photos that show violence from a long time ago, during the issues of Mombasa Republican Congress and post-election violence," he said.
“The person is juxtaposing the photos against recent incidents of assault and now portraying Likoni to be very insecure."
He spoke during a security briefing for the subcounty that was ordered by the regional commissioner John Elungata following the circulation of the crime reports in the area.
Wambugu said that the situation on the ground is totally different as people are going about their daily activities.
He said that the area has in the last three months enjoyed tranquillity and people have enjoyed peace with no incidences of insecurity because police officers have been on the ground doing their work.
“We cannot lie, we have had some challenges because we have been battling some juvenile gangs, but I can assure you that we have contained them as we speak,” Wambugu said.
“I wonder why one could start peddling lies when we are expecting visitors in Mombasa, these amounts to economic sabotage.”
He said that the issue of drugs and illicit brews continue to pose a major challenge to security, adding that the regional commissioner and the county commissioner will soon launch a rapid response initiative to flush out illicit brewers.
The DCC further lauded community policing efforts in the area, saying that they have been actively engaging officers and volunteering information and that is why Likoni has managed to clock three months without any major insecurity incidents.
“It is through community policing that we have managed to bring insecurity levels down. We call upon them to continue volunteering information to us we shall as always act upon it,” he said.
Wambugu urged parents to monitor their children and know their whereabouts during this holiday and festive season so that they don’t fall into the wrong groups that will compromise their futures.
Likoni subcounty police commander Timothy Mwasia said that they had increased patrols in the area to ensure both residents and visitors are safe and secure as they enjoy their holidays.
“My men have been on the ground 24/7 and I can confirm to you that security in Likoni is up to standard,” Mwasia said.
The Likoni police chief urged members of the public to continue sharing information with the police, promising that it will be treated with confidentiality and acted upon promptly.
Security in the area, he said, has been beefed up since October, adding that all identified hotspots in Likoni have been covered.
“We continue to get officers from Jela Baridi and the GSU, so in terms of coverage, the so-called Panga Boys have no place in Likoni,” he said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)