Kisumu City mulls incorporating vigilantes in war against crime » Capital News

KISUMU, Kenya, Jul 4 – Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga is contemplating forming vigilante groups in the light of an escalation in crime across the city.

Wanga says the drawback by the police for fear of extra judicial killings has escalated insecurity in the lakeside city.

He says vigilantes have been used elsewhere and responded promptly to criminal activities.

“If police are unable to contain this menace, we will set up vigilantes to guard the people of Kisumu,” he said.

Abala says the roaming thugs kill without blinking and the same fate awaits them if they don’t change their way of life.

“I have been accused in the past of promoting extra judicial killing, but what do we do with thugs who kill pregnant mothers and members of the society,” he said.

He spoke when he met students of Uzima University and the neighboring community alongside police officers over the escalation of crime in the area.

Students and locals complained of killings, burglary and muggings, some happening in the broad day light.   

Abala says as the city responds to the concerns raised by the Uzima community, the police too must up their game.

“There are concerns here of dead street lights, bushy areas, all that will be addressed, in the meantime, police must intensify patrols” he said.

The City Manager says police are frustrated by the judiciary who often release hardcore criminals, only to return and commit similar offences.

He promised not to let the city degenerate into a criminal society.

Vice Chancellor of Uzima University Rev. Prof. Cosmas K’Otieno lauded the step in the discussion on how to confront the insecurity issue.

K’Otieno says their students, some living miles away in the hostels, have fallen to the criminal gangs, who roam around on motorcycles.

“We are very grateful and we look forward to working together as a University leadership so that this insistent insecurity around this area becomes a thing of the past,” he said.

The VC further announced plans to have their students housed within the University.

He says recently, when President William Ruto granted the University a Charter, he donated a grant of Sh100 million to the University.

“This grant, we are directing it into the construction of hostels for our students and already all the relevant bodies have given okay for the construction, which will begin soon,” he said.

The University President of the Students Council Jude Mugo says the level of security around Uzima has continued to deteriorate.

However, Mugo says the assurances from the City and police enforcement officers is giving hope to everyone.

“We have made our reforms, there is need for regular patrols, community gates to the hostels where comrades are living and lights to be up,” he said.  

He reminded the students that security starts with them, when it was apparent that some students rave at night and get to the hostels at the dead of the night, making them susceptible for attacks.