Northern Kenya

Local leaders raise alarm over rising security threat in Garissa

Garissa Township Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Chesut during Madaraka Day celebrations. (Photo: Issa Hussein)

By Issa Hussein | Saturday, June 1, 2024

He emphasised that the public was ready to work with security officers to address the emerging security threat.

Garissa Peace Chairman Hassan Osman on Saturday raised an alarm about emerging security threats in various areas within Garissa Township.

Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations at Garissa Primary playground, Hassan reported that residents were being terrorised and robbed by a gang of youths using knives and pangas to threaten their victims.

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Hassan called on the township security team to take immediate action to curb the dangerous youth gang before the situation worsens.

"There are areas including Soko Ngombe, Sagaray, parts of Bulla Medina, and Iftin where residents are forced to close business early in the evening and stay indoors due to fear of being attacked by the gang. If the necessary steps are not taken to end this emerging trend, these youths will in the future come with sophisticated guns to rob people in broad daylight," he warned.

He emphasised that the public was ready to work with security officers to address the emerging security threat.

Mohamed Minhaj, representing the youth during the Madaraka Day celebrations, also expressed concern about the gangs, which he said were dangerous and influenced by drugs. He highlighted various dangerous routes in Garissa Township where the gang actively engaged in criminal activities.

"We need security officers who are not in uniform and can easily blend with the common mwananchi to arrest these gangs before they morph into a more sophisticated group," Mohamed said.

Garissa Peace Chairman Hassan Osman addressing residents. (Photo: Issa Hussein)

Aden Wachu, representing ex-KDF veteran soldiers, called for concerted efforts to address the insecurity threat. He insisted that parents need to take responsibility and discourage their children from joining gangs.

"These are our children. Let's take responsibility, and if they don't comply, we should report them to the police for necessary action," Aden stated.

Garissa Township Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Chesut promised that security officers would pursue the youthful gangs and apprehend them. He urged the public to be vigilant and report such cases for prompt action. Chesut further warned parents against hiding cases where their children were involved in such gangs that were terrorising the public.

"Vigilance starts at home; you can easily identify your children's change of behaviour and lifestyle," he said.

Separately, Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabodza called upon the unemployed youth in Garissa County to register with the digitised National Skills Inventory.

Speaking at Madogashe Municipality during the Madaraka Day celebration and launch of the new municipality, he said the program, recently unveiled by the government, would help address the high unemployment rate among youth in Garissa County by effectively aligning them with available skills in the local and international labour markets.

He also urged the public to collaborate with security forces to address issues of insecurity and applauded pastoralist communities in Garissa County and the neighbouring Isiolo County for sustaining peaceful coexistence.