MKU calls for police vigilance after student murder.
Mount Kenya University (MKU) is calling for vigilance from
the authorities in order to contain cases of insecurity that if not checked,
might cripple the economy of Thika town.
While speaking on Friday in his office following the murder
of 3rd- year Education student near Witeithie Estate in Juja on Tuesday
afternoon, MKU Dean of Students Emmanuel Owuor reckoned that security was paramount
for businesses to thrive and the lack of it would definitely scare away
investors.
The dean pointed out that even though this incident happened
far away from their institution, the police needed to contain insecurity.
“Thika was initially an industrial town but it has now turned
into an institutional economy. The police need to intensify patrols and follow
up all criminal cases to deter recurrence of similar cases.
Something needs to
be done both within the town and its environs otherwise insecurity might de-market
this town and cripple its economy,” said Owuor.
Owuor added that, as an institution, MKU had taken stringent
measures to secure their students. Among the steps taken to protect the
students, he said, include installing 4 high mast security light around the
institution, hiring 24-hour administration police services as well as deploying
two security patrol vehicles and motorbikes throughout the night to secure the
over 12,000 students who reside off the main campus.
The dean described the victim, Isaac Ndung’u Njogu, as a
very humble and ‘down to earth student’ who was a darling of his class.
Noting that Njogu hailed from a very humble background,
Owuor said it was quite unfortunate that his assailants ‘killed the only hope
of the deceased family’.
Njogu met his death as he was walking with a friend towards
Witeithie Estate along Thika superhighway at around 1pm on Tuesday.
According to those who witnessed the incident, Njogu was talking
on the phone when they were accosted by two young men who emerged from the bush
just after Vincentian Retreat Centre. When he resisted their attempt to
forcibly take his phone, one of assailants stabbed him on the chest, killing
him instantly.
The two thugs took his phone and crossed the highway and
fled towards Tora area.
The Thika superhighway stretch between the former Castle
Breweries and Witeithie has been a hotspot for criminals who waylay pedestrians
either heading to or from Witeithie, especially at dawn and in the evenings.
Just recently, two twin girls were knocked by a vehicle as
they were running away from their attackers at the same spot.
Those who know the area well say that majority of these
attackers hail from the nearby Kiandutu slums with others coming from Witeithie
Estate.
Securing the area has been calls for a concerted effort from
both Thika and Juja police who need to liaise in order to manage security
patrols along the highway, a gap that is well exploited by these criminals.
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