Cases of insecurity in Nakuru county have been on the rise with residents questioning whether the city is turning into a criminal den.

Muggings in broad daylight, break-ins and attacks by the night have raised concerns among residents.

The pattern of these attacks are predatory, where middle aged boys prey on their target and eventually attack getting away with phones, money and over valuables.

Read: Kiratina: A knife, a crime and a case of mistaken identity

The most recent case was channeled through social media, by a Nakuru resident Paul Munyalo, who shares the sad ordeal of the attack on an 80-year-old grandmother along the 58 pedestrian walk path.

“One hour ago, I had decided if it will cost me the gangs butcher so be it, but not to see them steal from a 80 year granny who had a new phone and they wanted it pale 58 pedestrian walk path to town,” reads part of his post which he shared at noon on October 6 explaining how displeased he is on how insecure Nakuru is turning out to be.

In his post, he further identifies areas he says are dangerous for Wananchi’s who are walking. On the said list he captures Railway area along the flyover area as you get into town from Gate Iguru, Gate house roundabout, Odeon area, the road from DCI offices all the way to Afraha stadium and lastly the walking path from Menengai high school stretching all the way to Free Area.

In a phone interview with Mtaa Wangu, Munyalo says Nakuru's security matter is turning disastrous and called upon the necessary authorities to step in to look into the matter. He attests to young boys wandering around town stealing from people during the day getting away with it.

In another incident that happened on Monday October 2, 36-year-old Joseph Gachuiya, the bodaboda chairman in Kiratina was attacked at around 11pm, and stabbed with a knife on his back. His attackers left him for dead, eloping the scene on motorbikes.

Also Read: This is why residents of Kiratina estate are living in fear

Similar cases of people being robbed at knife point have also been shared across social media platforms with complaints being lodged from different parts of town.

In a separate incident, on September 23,2023, congregants from Joy Praise Ministry in Heshima area, were attacked at around 3 am as a Kesha was going on.

The congregants and residents from Heshima, were left in shock that burglars could storm a church and steal.

According to a victim of the robbery Steven Mwangi, men armed with guns, wearing police attire attacked those present at the church and made away with goods of unknown value including phones, church offerings, equipment’s, a gas cylinder and more than 20 packets of cakes meant to be shared by the church members when the Kesha concluded.

Commenting on the matter, Bahati sub county Police commander Mr Ng’ang’a Mwangi said that the matter was reported at Kiugoine police station by the church pastor saying that the matter is under investigation.

Watch: Man stabbed on his back with a knife in Kiratina

Whilst residents are calling for police intervention to curb these incidences, some are taking it upon themselves to conduct patrols in their area. Coming in strong on this matter are bodaboda riders from Kiratina who patrol the area from 4 pm into the night.

Reflecting on this case, residents are concerned on whether they will be seeing cases of vigilante groups coming up and taking law enforcement as their responsibility as they feel the local authority is inadequate.

On our visit to Kiratina, bodaboda riders making patrols made utterances that they will be taking law into their hands if the insecurity situations in the area persists. Adding that they will do all it takes to weed out criminals from their community.

County police commander, Samuel Ndanyi.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Speaking on the insecurity issue in Nakuru, the county police commander, Samuel Ndanyi, says patrol units have been intensified and more arrests are being made in regards to crime perpetrators.

According to the police boss, this week's patrols has yielded 34 arrests,16 of them having been made on Monday night after an intense patrol in the areas of Kaptembwo and Rhonda in Nakuru West, whereas 18 more arrests were made on Thursday.

“I am positive we will weed out criminal activities in Nakuru. The judiciary is giving us the support after the suspects have been presented to court. The said 34 were presented in court and sh 100,000 bond and cash bail was given for the 16 who were arrested on Monday and sh 50,000 bond for the 18 arrested on Thursday,” says the county commander.

Related: Cries of Crime: Inside Mauki, WaTZ gang wars and how rogue police officers are involved

Mr. Ndanyi says he is committing to ensuring a state of calmness is reinstated in Nakuru and that residents are going on with their daily activities without being worried about their safety.

Wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

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