State moves to curb runaway insecurity in Garissa as criminals are put on notice

The security apparatus in Garissa has embarked on a major operation targeting criminals and gangs who have been causing insecurity in Garissa town and its environs.

North Eastern regional commissioner John Otieno said fifteen youths aged 15 to 20 suspected to be involved in the insecurity incidences were arrested at the weekend in Garissa town and its environs. 

He was speaking at the Garissa government guest house during a security meeting to deliberate and get views from the security personnel and chiefs on how to restore sanity.

In attendance were Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, regional and county security teams, as well as chiefs and their assistants.

The town has experienced insecurity incidences in the last two weeks with people killed, mugged, stabbed and shops broken into by criminals some possessing guns.

So bad is the situation that businesses have been closing as early as 6 pm with those located in the outskirts where the incidences have been rampant being the most affected.

On Thursday night, suspected criminals with guns on a motorcycle stole Sh1.3 million from an M-Pesa shop in the Dobale, Bula Medina.

A day earlier a person was stabbed to death by unknown people in the outskirts of Garissa town after he refused to surrender his phone.

Otieno said that enough measures have been put in place to stabilise the rising insecurity in terms of serious deployment of officers in the identified areas as well as collecting intelligence to deal with the insecurity challenges.

“This is a very critical meeting that we have been able to convene here under my guidance and direction in line with happenings that have been taking place in this town. This wave has affected businesses as well as individuals to the extent that a picture being painted is that there is no security in town,” he said.

“It is a pity that as a small town like Garissa can experience a wave of insecurity when we have more than enough security personnel. We have over 600 security personnel and yet we are still experiencing such kind of."

The regional commissioner further took issue with parents who have made it a habit to throng police stations to have their children and relatives suspected to be involved in crime released.

“I want to make it very clear that nobody should be released because somebody somewhere has either made a call or talked to someone. And if there people releasing suspects on flimsy grounds after money has changed hands, when such allegations are confirmed then know that you are trading on very dangerous grounds,” he said.

Governor Jama noted that the county is already dealing with many other issues related to security such as Al Shabaab so the gangs in town should be vanquished.

He expressed his concern that the operation of the gangs especially now that one person has died after being attacked will escalate into inter-clan conflicts.

“Garissa is a very delicate society. Things like this can flare up to bigger problems. This is not something we should entertain at all. It is my appeal to each and everyone of us to play our rightful of ensuring that we deal with this situation as early as now,” he said.

He urged the chiefs to work hard and help contain the insecurity.

"I am happy that much has been done to curb this menace, however, more can be done and should done. This situation needs to be addressed holistically," he said.