MIDRIFT Human Rights Network has launched a project aimed at de-escalating the crime rate in Nakuru East and Nakuru West sub counties.

This comes at a time when the two sub counties have been on the security radar over mushrooming criminal gangs among them the Mauki, WaTz and the illegal confirm gang.

Read: Cries of Crime: How criminal gangs have disrupted the lives of residents in Nakuru West

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission(NCIC) conflict mapping report indicated criminal gangs and political competition in Nakuru West and Nakuru East as threats to peace and cohesion.

However, with the inception of the Project dubbed' Peace and Social Cohesion through Multi-Sectoral Youth-led dialogue on Conflict Mediation and Violence Prevention’, stakeholders believe it will help address the menace.

The four-months project that runs from August to November 2023, targets mostly youth but will also involve women, National Government Administration Officers, County Government, Community Policing Committees and Security agencies under the Ministry of Interior.

Also Read: Cries of Crime: Why we joined 'confirm' gang

Catherine Wanderi from MIDRIFT says the main objective is to contribute to building safe, secure and peaceful communities by creating a pool of youthful peace and security champions.

“We are optimistic that this will go a long way in de-escalating conflict and enhancing good relations between youth groups and communities affected by criminal activities in Nakuru West and Nakuru East informal settlements,” she says.

Already the project has been rolled out with key activities among them multi-sectoral stakeholders inception meeting, before moving to intergenerational dialogue forums.

Listen: Cries of Crime podcast

Thereafter, there shall be grass root meetings in Nakuru West and Nakuru East where criminal activities have been reported among young people in the recent days.

Security team led by Nakuru Town East Deputy County Commissioner Were Simiyu have lauded the project terming it key towards addressing criminal activities that have been a thorn in the flesh especially in Nakuru East and Nakuru West sub counties.

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

“The program is welcomed and we as administrators in the security docket shall give it all the support needed. We all have a role to transform our young people,” he says.

On his part, MIDRIFT Chief Executive Joseph Omondi says they are working to ensure even the community policing, Nyumba kumi clusters are brought on board.

MIDRIFT Chief Executive Joseph Omondi.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

He says the stakeholders should not work in silos as this leads to lack of trust between the police and community.

Sentiments echoed by Nakuru West Sub County Police Commander Francis Wahome who notes that young people are key in the peace process.

Watch: Cries of Crime: Nakuru's deadly Confirm gang

According to a survey done by MIDRIFT Human Rights Network, Nakuru County with a population of 2.162 million has a youth population of 66.7 percent with general apathy in active involvement in County Governance and democratic processes.

pmambili@gmail.com

Human rights activists initiate solution to Nakuru's alarming crime rate

Author Spotlight

Pristone Mambili