Runaway insecurity dominates Jamhuri day celebrations in Mombasa

Mombasa County leaders have decried runaway insecurity and urged residents to join the war against the vice.

Governor Hassan Joho and County Commissioner Evans Achoki are set to convene a meeting on Monday to rally locals against gang attacks that have left many dead or injured.

Speaking during yesterday’s Jamhuri Day celebrations at Tononoka grounds Achoki said police on Tuesday arrested 10 suspects who have given leads on the sporadic gang attacks in Kisauni.

He added that the State had opened police posts in the troubled spots such as Kadzandani, Koncodia and Kadongo.

“Parents must take responsibility of their children. It is they who know what the (children) are doing at all times,” stated Achoki.

Achoki warned that the Government would arrest children and their parents next month if the children were not taken to school.

He also said landlords whose houses are used to sell narcotics would be arrested in the campaign to rid the county of drug abuse. Joho said the anti-crime campaign would be dubbed “I will get involved”.

“This is to strengthen village vigilance, it has worked before when Muslim leaders led villagers on a civilian operation at Majengo Sidiria,” Joho explained.

The leaders condemned yesterday’s killing of former Kilifi Deputy Governor Kennedy Kamto in Nyali sub-county. 

At the same time, Joho announced that the county government had set aside Sh200 million in its supplementary budget to train youth so that they could get jobs in the blue economy sector.

“I have asked the county assembly to approve Sh200 million supplementary budget to train youth in various courses so as to create jobs,”

Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki said the county should provide an enabling environment for the youth to be job creators rather than job seekers.