•The civil society organization, human rights defenders and citizens of Kisumu county said they are grieved by a spate of insecurity and called for swift action.
•Ogada said thugs armed with crude weapons including guns have taken over streets and estates in Kisumu.
Image: MAURICE ALAL
Lobby groups in Kisumu have petitioned the government over the increased insecurity which has resulted in killings and maiming of citizens.
The civil society organization, human rights defenders and citizens of Kisumu county said they are grieved by a spate of insecurity and called for swift action.
Led by Kisumu City Residents Voice Association chairman Audi Ogada, the groups said the responsibility to protect citizens is placed on the government through its institutions.
In the last 20 months, Ogada said more than 25 people have been brutally attacked and 11 murder cases reported.
“No one has been arrested nor has the ongoing investigations revealed the culprits or cause,” he said.
The victims of the shocking crimes have shared with the groups their traumatic experiences at the hands of criminals and the continuous horrors they are still enduring.
They expressed concern over the lack of action given the runaway crime and insecurity within the county.
Kisumu Central, Kisumu West and Kisumu East Sub-counties are the most affected by the increased insecurity.
The human rights defender said the police have the mandate, obligation and duty to protect citizens equally as enshrined in the constitution.
“Police have power given through existing laws, legal framework and legislation and the allocated resources through our taxes, to carry out both its duty as a protector and exercise its power as a defender,” he said.
Ogada said thugs armed with crude weapons including guns have taken over streets and estates in Kisumu.
The criminals are maiming, physically assaulting, robbing, sexually assaulting and even murdering innocent Kenyans on the roads, workplaces, markets, houses and social outings.
He blamed police laxity for the increased insecurity leaving citizens on their own.
“Women, girls, boys and men are all at risk of violent attacks. We appeal for protection, extra vigilance and support against the increasing crime from the hands of criminal gangs,” Ogada said.
The government, he stated, does not seem to appreciate the fears Kenyans have given the muted responses and the increasing number of victims.
“These senseless attacks on the residents of Kisumu have been shocking and traumatic given the nature of violations suffered by victims of these crimes,” he said.
He lauded the recent reshuffling and transfers of officers but called for more action to tackle the wanting insecurity.
“We demand a total overhaul of Kisumu Central DCI team and officers mandated with phone tracking,” Ogada said.
They want a different government response to safety and security that does not have to choose between championing a justice system and protecting them from being attacked and losing property.
He questioned why raids during the day seem to be more effective than night patrols when criminals are roaming freely causing mayhem.
Ogada said rounding up and punishing every single young person because they look like criminals will not strengthen community support.
He also appealed to the Kisumu government to allocate more resources to deal with the current economic and inequality gaps Kenyans are currently facing.
“We must come up with programmes that address the socio-economic challenges that currently beset the country. This does not mean we are protecting the criminals running riot all over Kisumu at will,” Ogada said.
Besides policing the streets and residences, he said there was a need to create wealth, enhance people’s dignity and improve livelihoods for the good of society.
“We also strongly believe that the insecurity crisis cannot be solved only by the government and that we all have a role and part to play,” Ogada said.
He acknowledged that there is an insecurity crisis that needs fixing and coming up with local crime prevention that communities can appreciate.
“The duty to protect and defend cannot be negotiated because people’s lives are at risk,” Ogada said.
They demanded immediate protection of citizens’ lives and property through a significant police presence including more police patrols around the hotspots.
“We want to amplify and publicise a police hotline for reporting, will strengthen community engagement and enhance community policing,” he said.
Ogada demanded the Kisumu county government restore floodlights in areas currently experiencing blackouts and install additional floodlights in other hotspot areas.
He cited Mamboleo, Wigot, Nyamasaria and markets in and around the urban and peri-urban areas in the county.
Ogada said failure to establish county policing authority, has resulted in serious management, prevention and response gaps leading to insecurity.
He pointed out that President William Ruto had said that extra-judicial killing is unacceptable in the country.
The police should protect and defend the rights of citizens as enshrined in the constitution, he said.
“In the last month, two cases have been documented with one recorded enforced disappearance. No one has the right to take away the right to life and everyone has a right to justice and accountability,” Ogada said.
Kisumu Central deputy county commissioner Hussein Alasso assured residents of security after they intensify patrols.
"We have heightened security during this festive season," he said.
Hussein called for collective responsibility to combat crime.
"Our officers have done their best in addressing insecurity. We have arrested hardcore criminals and recovered guns," he added.