Residents of Riabai and Ndumberi have voiced serious concerns regarding a recent surge in insecurity, with particular alarm raised over the systematic targeting of livestock, primarily cows, at homesteads during the night.
Speaking at the Riabai Shopping Centre, one victim, who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisal, described the escalating trend as deeply troubling and unaddressed. “Most of the residents here are living in fear, and we wonder what our officers are doing despite the Riabai Police Station being a stone’s throw away,” the resident stated. The community asserts that the current incidents focus heavily on homes where cows are kept overnight.
In Ndumberi, the community reported additional anxieties, citing an increase in nighttime muggings, specifically mentioning the Karunga area and the vicinity of the local polytechnic. Residents suggested that an organized gang might be behind the attacks, a fear that is compounded by the ongoing rainy season, which they feel complicates security and response efforts.
Another resident suggested that the escalating issue requires proper coordination between the local community policing teams and the official security apparatus to be effectively salvaged.
In response to the complaints, a senior police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, emphasized the critical need for victim cooperation in the judicial process. “Some cases are reported, but when you call upon victims to be witnesses, they fail to turn up for court processing, leaving us with nothing to do,” the officer noted. The official stressed that residents must report and follow up on all incidents to effectively curb the menace, adding that daily patrols are being conducted across the affected areas.
