• Governor Bii visited the Eldoret City police station where boss Mwanthi pledged his support to security.
• Two hundred stolen motorcycles have been recovered and displayed at one station for owners to collect.
Image: BY MATHEWS NDANYI
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has said he is aims to grow a 24-hours economy in Eldoret City with enhanced security to support day and night trading.
He visited the Eldoret Central police station where he met top security officers led by county police commander Benjamin Mwanthi.
The police boss pledged his support for enhanced security operations in the region.
“Eldoret is now a city and I have come here to see or myself part of the work being done by our security officers to ensure our region is safe for investments and for all residents,” Bii said.
The county chief said the county administration would also work to educate residents on the need to support the security agencies to effectively perform their work.
He spoke as it was revealed that more than 200 stolen motorcycles have been recovered in a police operation in Uasin Gishu in the last one month.
Mwanthi said 16 suspects involved in the theft racket have been arrested and charged in court in the past one month.
He spoke when the governor visited the Eldoret Central police station to commend security officers for the work they are doing to ensure the region is secure.
“I am happy with the work being done by our officers to maintain security in Eldoret City and in particular deal with the problem of motorcycle theft that had become rampant in our region,” Bii said.
He said the Eldoret City is gearing up to expanded business operations on a 24-hour basis. Enhanced security would be needed, he said, Bii asked residents to ensure they work closely with security agencies in dealing with crime in the region.
The governor said his administration is committed to also work with and support security agencies in discharging their mandate.
Mwanthi said they would provide support to the county government to ensure the 24-hour economy works well in Eldoret City.
“We are happy that the governor has visited to see the work we are doing. His visit is a morale booster to our officers because it shows he values the work done by our officers,” he said.
Governor Bii visited the yard where the recovered motorcycles are on display for affected residents to go identify and collect them.
“We urge our boda boda riders not to buy spare parts from unauthorised dealers who may sell them stolen items,” Mwanthi said.
He said the motorcycles theft was a wide racket extending to other parts of the North Rift and western Kenya.
Mwanthi said as part of measures to enhance security in the region, last week all OCSs in charge of more than 30 police stations met with members of the public in their areas to discuss security issues.
“We will do that regularly so that our officers and our people discuss and come up with solutions to some of the security challenges that may arise,” the police boss said.