Header Ads

Traders Petition Interior CS For Transfer Of Police Base To Thika Over Security Concerns.


TDBA Chairman Alfred Wanyoike presenting a memorandumby the Thika business community to the Thika West DCC Tom Anjere at the DC's Compound requesting Interior CS to transfer Ndururumo Police Post to Thika Division.
Thika business community have petitioned Internal Security Cabinet Secretary (CS) Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery to transfer Ndururumo Police Post from Gatanga Police Division to Thika West Police Division.

Ndururumo Police Post, which is right next to the Thika Superhighway, is under Gatanga Division which is 25 km away as opposed to Thika which is just 2km away.

In a memorandum presented to Thika West Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Tom Anjere on behalf of area residents and the business community, they argued that delays culminating from these restrictions resulted to an increase in cases of insecurity.

“The residents should have a public door to the police in their neighbourhood where they can access police services in case of emergencies. The transfer of this post to Thika will act as a deterrent to criminal activity, as the response from Thika police officers would be swifter due to their proximity,” said Alfred Wanyoike, the chairman Thika District Business Association (TDBA).

They argued that though the area fell under Murang’a County, security was not a devolved unit, thus police officers should serve from any point.

Residents of Maki Estate, Maporomoko, Kimatus, Jogoo, Bendor and Thika Sports Club believe that policing is not sufficiently visible in those areas due to the inconveniences caused by administrative bureaucracy.

“If you scrutinise this issue in detail, it is the officers from Thika who actually man the area in terms of traffic and in the fight against crime. But at times, their hands are tied when it comes to the chain of command. Incidents of robbery, muggings and carjacking are prevalent in the area as criminals are aware of the impending challenges facing these residents,” added Wanyoike.

Responding to the people’s plea, Thika DCC promised to use the laid down procedure at his disposal to hand over the petition to the relevant authorities. He added that his security team was collaborating with their counterparts in Gatanga to ensure that the security of the area was enhanced. He appealed to the business community in Thika to schedule a meeting with his office to work out solutions that would seal the gaps that criminals were taking advantage of.

“We need to sit down as stakeholders to chat the way forward on how best we can curtail crime in this region. Together we can map out a detailed framework that will guarantee security for all,” said Anjere.
He also requested the traders to schedule a meeting with the Gatanga security team so that they could air their security concerns.

Earlier in the day, the traders held a peaceful procession around the streets of Thika Town in solidarity with the slain business lady Joyce Wambui Githitu who was murdered at her Maki home.

At least seven people are in police custody over the murder that is believed to have been schemed from Thika where Wambui was a prominent trader.


A section of the Thika traders who had converged at the Thika West DC's offices to present their concerns to the DCC Tom Anjere.
There has been a longstanding tussle between Kiambu and Murang’a Counties over whose jurisdiction, Maki Estate, Maporomoko, Kimatus, Jogoo, Bendor, Githingiri and Thika Sports Club fall. Politically, these residents fall under Thika Town Constituency but administratively, they are in Murang’a County. Essential services such as water and sewerage services are provided by Thika Sub-County even though these residents pay their cess and rates to Murang’a County Government.

Ironically, some of the senior officers in Kiambu County reside in the perceived Murang’a County territory. The residence of both the Thika West Deputy County Commissioner and the OCPD Thika are both within the Murang’a side of the boundary.

Ndururumo Police Post was built using funds from the former Juja Constituency (now Thika Town Constituency) and the LATIF/LASDAP Funds from the former Municipal Council of Thika. The post is in Maboromoko Estate opposite Blue Post Hotel, an estate occupied by a 100% Thika residents.

In July 2015, a revenue clerk was injured during a border scuffle between Murang’a and Kiambu counties. The Murang’a clerk, then stationed in near Jogoo Kimakia Hotel, was attacked and injured by Kiambu county askaris who came in a convoy armed with clubs, and told them they were collecting levies in an area that belonged to Kiambu.

They also allegedly confiscated receipt books and took the money they had collected.

The two counties have been embroiled in a border dispute since the county governments came into force.

The disputed areas which include Bendor, Maporomoko, Jogoo Kimakia, Thika Sports Club, Blue Post, the Del Monte and other farms which are high end estates that both counties have been fighting to control that but are said to fall within Gatanga constituency.
Part of the procession by Thika traders in solidarity with the Late Joyce Wambui Githitu who was murdered at her Maki home last week. Businesses were closed in the entire town, leaving unsuspecting residents stranded and confused.

While Murang'a maintains the border of the two counties is Chania River, Kiambu on the other hand says that should not be the border point since they offer services to the neighbouring high end estates.

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo said the alleged boundary dispute since 2013 was ill motivated and politically castigated. According to Kabogo, the dispute is imaginary and he asked concerned leaders to enquire from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which was mandated to demarcate the boundaries after the creation of counties to get clear answers.


“We haven’t created our own boundaries and those raising the matter should ask IEBC or raise the matter in Parliament and not on the streets,” Kabogo said then.

“The people in those areas are in Kiambu and they will pay levies to Kiambu because they get services from us. I have talked with my Murang’a counterpart and there is not dispute only a few individuals want to create it,” he added.

No comments:

Powered by Blogger.