• His remarks came as eight police officers from the disbanded Special Services Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations were detained.
• The officers are suspected to have been involved in abductions and extrajudicial executions.
Image: FILE
A city resident has blamed rising cases of insecurity in Nairobi on the crackdown against officers linked to crime and asked the government to go slow on the clampdown.
In a video posted online, the middle-aged man said law enforcers have in protest seemingly employed laxity and left vulnerable Kenyans at the mercy of criminals.
"Youths have become thieves, they are stabbing people in broad daylight. Areas like Globe Roundabout, Koja, Kasarani and Pangani are so unsafe you walk while scared as you can be stabbed and your phone taken," he said.
He claimed at least 65 victims of muggings have been referred to the Kenyatta National Hospital where about 17 of them succumbed to stab wounds.
"Those are breadwinners who have died. Yes, extrajudicial killings are not good but when you suppress the DCI, general police and other security officers, these young men become a law unto themselves because they know nothing will happen to them," he said.
Lots of insecurity lots of magging. The police are on go slow kinda thingy. People have no money and frustration is high. The daily food and bus fare are at record high. The subsidies on petrol and unga made people to have something to spend but not with the new government 🤦🏿♂️#rut pic.twitter.com/dietMGqrKO
— GatheX001 (@GatheX001) November 9, 2022
His remarks came as eight police officers from the disbanded Special Services Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations were Thursday detained for 21 days pending investigations.
The officers are suspected to have been involved in abductions and extrajudicial executions.
The detention of the officers comes amid an alleged silent go-slow by some police officers in Nairobi to protest the prosecution of their colleagues.
Former police spokesman Bruno Shosio denied being aware of the go-slow but some officers confirmed earlier in the week that they were on a wait-and-see mode saying they “can’t use” their weapons for now and it is upon the public to defend themselves.
"We are not aware of the said strike. Police are members of disciplined services and are not allowed to go on strike leave alone a go-slow," he said.
The young man in the video said Kenyans are bearing the brunt of the crackdown against the officers.
"So, who is paying the price? Kenyans are the ones who are paying the price," he said in the video recorded in a mix of Swahili and urban slang, Sheng.
And as if to resign to fate, he appealed to the youths involved in muggings around the city to consider sparing victims' lives.
"Geng geng manze mumelose hiyo conduct bana. Kuna ile conduct unaweza iba lakini kuna ile conduct you cannot kill. Hawa wasee ni kama sasa ni cult, wanaua na wanamwaga damu," he said.
(You have lost conduct, you can steal but there's that conduct where you cannot kill. You have become like a cult where you kill and spill blood.)
"Sasa ukiiba halafu uuwe, hiyo si ni kama mti ya matunda umekata? Umekata mti ya matunda kesho utaiba nini?" he posed.
(If you steal then kill, it's like you have cut down a tree that bears fruits. What will you steal tomorrow?)
Police statistics show up to five violent crimes are reported daily in the past few weeks.
On Tuesday, a doctor at KNH said the referral facility receives an average of four to seven patients who have been stabbed and warned Kenyans to exercise caution when going about their business around the city.
"I have helplessly watched young and old, men and women, breathe their last while trying to save them. Some are in ICU while others have survived but with lifelong injuries," Dr Lilian Munyua said.
"Please note these killer thugs are stealing in broad daylight. If you resist they will stab or shoot you without a second thought. Advise your friends and family to avoid walking alone or getting late in these places."
Most of the stabbing incidents occur on Thika Super Highway at the stretch between the Drive-In flyover and KCA University, the KCA underpass up to Total Exit and at the Globe roundabout and Kipande Road.
Other areas are ABC Place on Waiyaki Way, Kangemi, Naivas Allsops off Thika Super Highway, the CBD (particularly at Archives), River Road, Fig Tree area in Ngara and KBC offices around the University of Nairobi.
Acting Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow on Wednesday directed all departments of the Police Service to heighten security as we head to December holidays.
He said this is in anticipation of a spike in opportunistic crimes during the festive season.
"I, therefore, direct all officers, both uniformed and civilian to focus on service delivery to the public in this period through closer engagements and collaborations," Gabow said.