Youth in Madogo, Tana River county, have been challenged to join technical institutes to acquire skills for growth.
The call comes amid concern from leaders and residents that many young people have dropped out of school and are now engaging in criminal activities in Madogo.
A criminal gang known as ‘Kayole’ consisting of children and adults aged between 10 and 30 has been terrorising residents by robbing them of their valuables and breaking into homes. Several people have lost their lives to the gang.
The gang uses knives and other crude weapons to terrorise residents.
They carry out their criminal activities in broad daylight and residents now live in fear.
So serious is the situation that terrified residents have been retreating to their houses as early as 5pm for fear of being attacked.
The attacks were the main the subject of discussion during a skills and career launching ceremony at Madogo vocational training centre on Saturday.
While some leaders blamed the issue to moral decay, others blamed it on idleness of school dropouts.
Tana River Deputy Governor Mahat Ali Loka while acknowledging that there exists a problem, urged the security apparatus to deal with the criminal gangs ruthlessly.
"The Quran tells us that anyone found stealing should have one of his hand chopped off. However we are governed by the Constitution which we must all follow. I have a lot of faith in our security apparatus that they will completely eliminate this gang and restore our security," he said.
Loka said some youth in the area shy away from joining technical training colleges, adding that this has only made the community to lag behind in matters development.
“When a majority of our children drop out school and end up in the streets with no technical skills, the end result is what you see today. My appeal is for us to take advantage of this institution that is fully equipped and acquire technical skills that will help us in life,” he said.
Tana River governor's wife Zeinab Abdullahi urged women and young girls to register at the institution and acquire skills.
"Gone are those days when we women were only restricted to being house wives, doing house chores and generally depending on our husbands to provide," she said.
"The over-dependence syndrome is what has led to the community to lag behind in matters development," she said.
Bangale deputy county commissioner Joseph Kipkorir said they have identified three three ringleaders of the notorious gang, adding that they will catch up with them soon.
"I want to say it in a broad daylight that we are closing down on these three notorious criminals who have been playing hide and seek with our security officers as they go about terrorising our people," he said.
"When you come across them, kindly tell them to change their ways or else they will have themselves to blame."
Bangale OCPD Joseph Gatuko said parents had neglected their parental roles.
"I want to state without any fear of contradiction that going forward we will ruthlessly deal with these young men who are out to destabilise our security. Even if it means shooting them dead we will do," he said.