Top officers moved over high insecurity in Gatundu South

The Government has transferred top security officers from Gatundu South following a wave of insecurity that has rocked the area in the last one month.

Kiambu County Commissioner Wilson Wanyanga yesterday confirmed the changes involved senior police and administration officers.

Wanyanga said Gatundu South Deputy Commissioner Merisho Maina, Sub-county Police Commander Reuben Muli and OCS Benson Orandi had been transferred.

Maina has been moved to Taita Taveta while Mr Muli has been transferred to Kajiado.

Stanley Kamande takes over from Maina, Joseph Tenai has replaced Muli while Wanyanga said a new team that would help to return normalcy in the area had already taken over.

“We have confidence with the new officers who have been posted in the area and we are going to assist them until the area becomes secure,” he said.

The county commissioner, while addressing the media in his office in Kiambu town, denied reports that the dreaded outlawed Mungiki sect had resurfaced locally.

He linked insecurity incidents reported in the area to a few criminal elements.

“We have managed to return normalcy in Gatundu South and people can sleep without fear. We will continue being on the ground until peace prevails,” he said.

The transfers of the senior police officers and administrators came a few days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i visited the area last week and promised the changes.

Wanyanga said there could be a scheme by some politicians, who he did not name, to portray the county in bad light.

“We are monitoring the movements of all politicians in the county. The law will take its course if we find any of them culpable in using any criminal gang to perpetuate insecurity,” he said.

Dr Matiang’i announced he was reorganising security and national Government administration in the county to deal with rampant insecurity.

The CS directed Central Regional Commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga to ensure all vacant positions for chiefs and their assistants in the county were filled by October 15.

Matiang’i said the Government would be tough on criminals, adding that he would be following in the footsteps of the once powerful Internal Security Minister John Michuki.

Michuki, (deceased), is remembered for crashing the Mungiki gang in Central Kenya during his reign.

Last Saturday, three bodies of young men were found dumped in the area.

County Police Commander Ali Nuno, however, yesterday said the bodies found dumped were not of residents of the area.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the three men do not come from the area. Their fingerprints have, however, been taken in order for their identity to be revealed,” he said.