Kisumu residents have petitioned Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Inspector General of Police to crack the whip on police in the town over what they termed as laxity in dealing with the crime wave.
The appeal by Kisumu City Residents Voice chairman Audi Ogada stated that residents live in fear as at least two criminal gangs reign terror on them at night.
Ogada stated: "Three people have been killed and at least 10 others injured over the past week by a suspected criminal gang which some residents claim work in complicity with some rogue officers.”
The chairman noted that these incidences had been reported to the police but they were yet to take any action.
[caption caption="Interior CS Fred Matiang'i with IG Joseph Boinnet"]
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“We wish to strongly appeal for urgent intervention following a series of robbery incidences within Kisumu and its environ which has generated public outcry," part of the appeal read.
"As a matter of candid fact, three bodies are lying at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga hospital mortuary as a result of attacks by gangs in different parts of the County for the past one week,” it added.
He further claimed that police had not visited the family which was attacked, assaulted and robbed and their children also sustained injuries during the robbery.
Speaking on the issue, Kisumu County Commander of Police John Kamau told journalists only two cases of the violent robberies had been reported over the past week.
“We have our special teams that interact with the residents and whereas we have not received any report that would indicate a resurgence in crime per se, we are working towards containing the fear created by activists by eliminating the budding organised crime,” Kamau affirmed.
[caption caption="CS Matiang'i with IG Boinnet"]
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Kisumu Central OCPD Mutune Maweu stated that one of the leaders of the gangs reigning terror would be charged once he is discharged from the hospital after he sustained injuries during a confrontation with an officer who had gone to arrest him.
