A Kisumu county lawmaker has called for increased security patrols following a series of clashes between rival gangs that he said had left several youths dead in parts of the county.
Seth Ochieng Kanga, the Majority Whip in the Kisumu County Assembly and member for Market Mililani Ward, said the violence was particularly worrying in areas around Kibos and Chiga in Kisumu East constituency.
He urged security agencies to intensify patrols and take action against groups accused of terrorising residents.
“The attacks, which have increased during the last four days, threaten to reverse the gains made in repositioning the lakeside city as a regional investment hub,” Kanga said.
Kanga, who has expressed interest in contesting the Kisumu East parliamentary seat, also criticised area lawmaker Shakeel Shabir Ahmed over the security situation.
He questioned the investment in police stations and posts in the constituency, saying security concerns remained despite the infrastructure.
Kanga instead called for greater investment in youth training and employment, including the establishment of middle-level colleges where young people could develop their skills.
He also criticised Shabir what he described as a failure to present meaningful development proposals during President William Ruto’s recent visit to the Nyanza region.
“Some local leaders asked for various goodies while ours did not,” Kanga said.
He said leaders in other areas had also been lobbying for young people to be recruited into institutions including the National Police Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and teacher-training colleges.
Kisumu County Police Commander Hilary Toroitich said police had stepped up patrols and warned youths against taking the law into their own hands.
“We are taking this matter very seriously and soon we are going to wipe out all these dens,” Toroitich said.
He appealed to residents to provide information that could help police identify and arrest those involved in criminal activities.
Toroitich said a multi-agency team had been established to tackle suspected gangs and maintain security in the affected areas.
Human rights activist Audi Ogada, however, accused police of failing to adequately protect residents and property.
Ogada said some officers in Kisumu East were suspected of colluding with criminals, allegations he said had undermined public confidence in the police.
In an open letter, he called for an overhaul of security operations at Kasagam and Nyamasaria police stations.
“Some police officers from Kasagam and Nyamasaria are suspected to be colluding and covering up well known culprits,” Ogada said.
Police have not publicly responded to the allegations of collusion contained in Ogada’s letter.
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