Robberies: City traders accuse police of laxity

By Macharia Kamau

The Nairobi business community has accused the Government of laxity in the fight against crime.

Nairobi Central Business District Association (NCBDA) on Thursday said insecurity in the city had worsened. NCBDA officials said the cost of doing business had increased as firms were spending more on security.

NCBDA chairman, Timothy Muriuki said efforts to discuss the crime wave have hit a snag and the Police Commissioner and the Internal Security Minister’s commitment to fight the vice.

"We have for the last two weeks tried to schedule meetings with the Commissioner of Police and the Internal Security Minister, but have not succeeded," he said.

He said the city was key to the economy, but the high crime rate was discouraging investors.

"Nairobi generates over 50 per cent of the country’s GDP so its pertinent to attend to issues regarding security without further ado," he said. The association was reacting to recent robberies witnessed in the city where thugs have robbed retail shops at gunpoint in broad daylight. He said police response was pathetic.

Muriuki, who spoke on Thursday at a press briefing, said NCBDA would however partner with the Government to install modern crime fighting equipment.

"We are expecting the CCTV design and specification document any time now from the consultant. We shall share the information with the Government and hope we can implement it as a public private partnership," he said.

In collaboration with the Kenya Data Networks, the Government has already installed a number of surveillance cameras around the city.