Senator Nyong'o petitions Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery over insecurity in Kisumu

Residents demonstrate along the streets of Kisumu town following the rising cases of insecurity in Kisumu County.[ PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD]

KENYA: Kisumu Senator Professor Anyang' Nyong'o has petitioned Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to tour Kisumu and solve the current security mayhem witnessed in the area.

Nyong'o said he has received varied theories on the matter which has sent shivers among the area residents, and if no intervention measure is put in place, the mater may get out of hand.

The Senator who has been in town for the last three days to undertake various projects expressed disappointment with what he termed 'police not giving attention' to the concerns raised by the public.

According to Nyong'o, the presence of the skewed composition of the county's security top leadership and the National Youth Service (NYS) are major concerns raised by the public, and need to be discussed by stakeholders and a solution reached.

He said if Nkaissery visit the area, he will get the public concerns first hand instead of waiting until the public lose confidence in the security personnel.

"Irrespective of a major demonstration against cases of crime in town last week, nobody has been apprehended and the police seem to be not paying attention," said Nyong'o.

During the said demonstration, a section of Members of County Assembly, civil society groups and residents gave a ten-point demand to the county government and the police in the fight against insecurity.

Nyong'o was also handed a copy of the petition in a move aimed at involving all stakeholders in solving the security stalemate which has seen at least criminal attack every day in the area.

The residents called for transfer of long serving officers, constitution of county policing authority, formation of the county metropolis among other demands.

The recent wave of insecurity in the area has escalated with a machete wielding gang terrorizing people in the estates and along the major highways.

The installation of floodlights and streetlights in the crime hotspots seem not to have impacts on the cases reported as no arrests have been made.

The city also got a boost in its security system after the launch of the Quick Response Team (QRT) whose mandate is to fight crime in the area.

The Senator on Friday said he had communicated to Mr Nkaissery to personally visit the area and act on the issues raised by the residents.

"We are beginning to believe in some of the theories raised by the public. How can people be butchered at 5am and nobody is arrested several weeks later?" posed Nyong'o.