Church services and businesses that had been opened on Sunday were interrupted by noises at Kamburu ward in Lari constituency in Kiambu county as residents protested over the rising cases of insecurity.
Carrying banners, the residents sang songs and blow whistles to demand the government to beef up security following too much cases such as livestock theft, avocado and banana theft, house breaking and other cases.
A local Susan Wanja said they were also angered by last week’s two murder cases of locals.
“We will not rest since we are living in fear of being attacked by criminal gangs. They can attacked us too at any time. They used to steal but last week, they killed two people” she said.
The protestors blocked the main road and entered in Kamburu trading center and proceeded to the local Kamburu police station to demand answers.
However, the protest was peaceful as nothing was destroyed and no one was injured.
“We did not destroy anything. We want to remain as peaceful as possible. Our aim is to ensure that the government is aware about our pain” James Mwangi, a resident said.
Mwangi said that they will be holding protests weekly until the security is improved so as to keep away criminals.
Efforts by area chief Francis Waronja to intervene and stop the protesters from entering in the police post were futile.
The chief was joined by Lari deputy county commissioner Samuel Kariuki who urged locals to remain peaceful as investigations of the thefts that have been happening and the killings were being conducted.
Kariuki also affirmed that the government want to ensure that there was a conducive environment where people can live and conduct their businesses peacefully.
“These cases are being investigated. We shall follow up and ensure actions are taken as quickly as possible”, the administrator said.
Former banker and now MP aspirant Josephine Miano condemned the rising cases of insecurity in that area.
Miano said if those cases will not be addressed properly, locals will be hit by poverty.
“When dairy cows whose milk is sold by locals to earn a living are stolen, will these farmers earn anything? The same case applies to poultry farmers as well as to avocado and banana farmers” she said.
“These farmers will lose morale and definitely will not work hard to produce more for sale and this will leave locals as poor people, something that is very unfortunate” she said.
The aspirant sent messages of condolence to the families of the murdered residents, asking the government to speed up the investigations.
