Garissa: Garissa County Commissioner (CC) Mohamed Mwabudzo has vowed to reign in criminals terrorizing Garissa town residents. Mwabudzo stated that security personnel would conduct massive crackdowns on these armed criminals to restore order and peace in the area. He expressed concern over the increased incidents of robbery with violence, thefts, and knife attacks.

According to Kenya News Agency, Mwabudzo, speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kunaso grounds in Garissa town, directed national government administrative officers, from assistant chiefs to the deputy county commissioners, to collaborate with other security agencies to apprehend and charge all those found culpable in a court of law.

The situation has deteriorated to the point where a day rarely passes without a reported case of a person being attacked, robbed of valuables, or knifed, leaving them either dead or nursing serious injuries. In some areas of the town, even boda boda riders are hesitant to ferry passengers due to the rampant insecurity.

According to a police officer who sought anonymity, at least ten people have been attacked in the last five days, mostly on the outskirts of Garissa town. Last week, a lecturer at the Garissa Teachers Training College, identified as Hillary Ochieng, was brutally murdered in the Bula Mzuri area around 6:30 pm. Eyewitnesses reported that the victim was stopped by two young men posing as clients, one of whom stabbed him in the chest before they fled the scene without stealing anything.

Mwabudzo emphasized that it was unacceptable for young people to continue robbing residents under the guise of unemployment. He stated, “From today, it is the responsibility of the Chiefs, Assistant County Commissioners, the Deputy County Commissioner, and other security organs to work together to tame the rising crime and restore order in our villages. For the leaders and citizens, we must work together because security is the foundation of development.”

He further stressed that unemployment is not an excuse for criminal behavior, highlighting that young individuals between the ages of 15 and 25 are terrorizing the public. Mwabudzo also warned parents against supporting and shielding children involved in criminal activities, stating, “If the parents have failed in their responsibility to raise you, we will work on you, and this is a promise.”