The new Ichangai police station in Maragua sub-county, Murang'a/ALICE WAITHERAFor decades, Ichangai village in Murang'a has been stifled and terrorised by a crime wave, making it impossible for most residents to engage in any meaningful economic activities.
The high crime rate forced many landowners to abandon their farms in search of safer areas, turning their idle land into crime dens.
Drugs such as bhang were openly consumed, and illicit liquor was produced on former farmland, making life difficult and dangerous for residents.
Insecurity drove up crime, including sexual violence, petty crimes and more serious offences. The situation was especially dangerous because the sparsely populated village is located between Makuyu and Sabasaba police stations. Their police officers try but they are stretched too thin to end crime in Ichangai village.
In desperation, residents appealed to local leaders to establish a police station to fight crime, stabilise property values and make the area safe for development.
Resident Michael Chege said illicit liquor has been produced in
the area for more than 30 years, hooking the youth and making it difficult or
impossible for them to engage in productive activities. As a result,
development has slowed dramatically.
"We're very happy the government has finally heard our cries and established this station. This area was a no-go zone. Even the road passing through was unusable," he told the Star.
Chege spoke during the commissioning of the new Ichangai police station constructed by the NG-CDF for Sh11.6 million. A well-off resident with a vast farm donated land for the station.
Resident Chege expressed confidence the new station will enable residents to engage in business to lift their incomes and improve the quality of their lives.
The station will also serve villages such as Thangira, Thaara and Gathungururu, which all have high levels of crime and gender-based violence.
“The station will make it possible for landowners to develop their farms and eliminate idle spaces used by criminals to produce brews and perpetrate crime,” he said.
MP Mary Waithera said the land donor has a very large property and has been trying without success to woo investors to set up businesses. They refused because crime would endanger their ventures.
The MP said her constituency has been grappling with sexual offences, drug trafficking and abuse, as well as other crimes. She said a bigger police presence will help restore security because criminals will have to leave abandoned land that will be patrolled.
"We realised we needed the presence of police officers in this area to spur growth and ensure residents live peacefully," she said.
Police already have been deployed to the new station and the government has pledged to dispatch a vehicle within the month.
The station will complement security efforts by officers from the Kenol, Makuyu and Sabasaba stations.
MP Waithera urged investors to consider putting up businesses in the area.
“I appeal to the donor resident to consider donating another piece of land for affordable housing, providing jobs for residents and further speeding development,” Waithera said.
Woman Representative Betty Maina praised Waithera’s efforts but pleaded with the government to recruit more police to address staff shortages in police stations.
She said most subcounties are facing acute shortages of officers at a time when crime has increased to an unprecedented level.
The legislator urged the state to improve officers’ welfare, motivating them to continue protecting Kenyans and their properties.
"Our police officers have been very vigilant in maintaining security and their welfare should be well catered to. We urge that some affordable housing units are set aside for police officers,” Waithera said.
Deputy Inspector of Police Gilbert Masengeli inspects a guard of honour at the new Ichangai police station in Maragua on August 1, 2025Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli, who commissioned the station, pledged to crush the cartels selling drugs.
"I've been briefed on insecurity issues in this area and we're in agreement that as we open this police station, they have to be tackled," he said.
"Nobody is untouchable. All criminals selling illicit and second-generation brews will face the law."
He said Murang'a county is ranked number 15 in drug abuse in the country, raising concerns that a generation may be lost if urgent action is not taken to remedy the problem.
Masengeli called for the partnership of local leaders and residents to improve security and stamp out crime.
He said the government has been trying to improve police officers’ welfare and increase their rapport with the public.
"Nowadays, police officers are our brothers and sisters; it’s not like before when people would run away when they saw police,” Masengeli said.
Instant analysis
The high crime rate forced
many farmers to abandon their properties for safer areas, turning farms into
crime dens. Drugs such as bhang were openly consumed and illicit liquor
produced on idle land, making life extremely dangerous for residence.
Confidence in the new station will enable them to resume business and improve
the quality of their lives.
