Sanity has returned to the streets and estates in Nairobi after weeks of terror meted on residents by criminal gangs.
The murder of young Keegan Githua at end of October by criminals on a motorbike caught the attention of Kenyans. They made a unified call to the security agencies to act on the shameless ruthless thugs who had poured to the streets and estates to reap where they soweth not.
In the recent weeks, city residents lived and walked in fear for no one knew the hour nor the minute that the self-declared owners of the streets would descend on them. From snatching of handbags, mobile phones, violent mugging, christened ngeta in street language, to gunpoint robberies, stabbing of resisting and cooperating victims, the incidences had become too much and something had to be done.
The criminals seemed to have been itching for attention of daddy. With a new interior CS and new Sherriff in town in the name of Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome being sworn to duty, the call by the criminals was eventually answered.
With the deployment of the Rapid Deployment Unit of the Administration Police and the General Service Unit into the city centre, the reign of terror, which has been a party and dance season for the criminals has come to an end.
As you walk the streets of Nairobi, the heavy presence of the heavily armed officers is loud and clearly visible. This, according to the police commanders, is in addition to even more officers in plain clothes, disguised as civilians ready to pounce on any silly acts of crime. This is not only in the city centre but in the estates, where crime had also escalated.
River Road, the Globe roundabout, Fig Tree, Archives Public Square and Kipande Road are some of the areas in the city centre and peri-CBD that had been worst plagued by crime.
Speak to several people who have lived around Ngara and they will tell you that Fig Tree, Globe round about and Kipande Road have for long been dreaded sites later in the night, and at times as early as 7pm.
Before the fencing off of the Michuki Park, criminals would rob citizens and disappear into the dark park, where it would take hopelessly limited wisdom to follow the robbers.
Crime can only be defeated with decisive consistency and finality. Decisive because no criminals will be intimidated by a reluctant law enforcement. Consistent because unless the vigilance is maintained, gangs will quickly sense reluctance, regroup, re-strategise and invade the streets again.
Finality, because if criminals get arrested and are again released on bail, they will see nothing big of a deal about it, and will not be deterred. How to achieve this? One, motivate the law enforcement men and women. It is a shame that poor living, working conditions of the police and poor pay were at some point in the 2000s making headlines.
While it is good to laud the previous Uhuru administration for the massive investment in modernising our police force and the army, a lot more remains to be done to better their working conditions.
Protection from political harassment, better pay, better terms of service for them and benefits for their families and friendly working terms with superiors will go a long way in ensuring the service men and women are greatly motivated.
Another effective strategy is community policing. The police need to cultivate good relations with the public and impress on the public the need to be forthcoming with information that can help nab criminals.
Boda boda riders have been on the spot due to bike-mounted robbers, who snatch phones, handbags and bags. With well-organised Saccos and proper mapping of areas of operation for registered Sacco members, criminals will not be able to hide amongst boda boda operators.
Similarly, idle riders waiting to pounce on citizens will be easily identified and confronted by law enforcement. In the areas of abode, neighbours will be able to report suspicious behaviours that can aid investigations.
A young man known well to yours truly was accosted by robbers on the night of January 29, 2019 by robbers around Chambers Road in Ngara, taking away his ID card, driving license, a pricey smartphone, cash and other documents in his wallet. This was after watching Manchester United thrash Arsenal 3-0 and taking a celebratory walk towards his abode.
A report to Parklands police station did not bear any fruits. The robbers disappeared into the kijiji called Kariwa between Chambers Road and Kipande Road. With functional community policing, groups such as that one would have been flushed out by neighbours and handed over to the police. That would have been the end of their reign of serving terror.
The police have done a great job to restore law and order in the city. Let us have the government improve the welfare of the police to keep them motivated and feeling secure. The public should also be dutifully supportive by giving information that will aid in countering crime.
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