Seven suspects have been arrested in Kisumu following a crackdown on criminal gangs terrorising area residents.
This comes after a public outcry over rising insecurity in the area where several lives have been lost to the gangs who waylay and attack unsuspecting members of the public with knives, pangas and blunt objects.
Kisumu County Commissioner (CC) Benson Leparmorijo said one of the key suspects was shot by the police and is hospitalised, adding that the crackdown will continue until all the suspects are nabbed.
“We have one of the suspects behind the rising cases of attacks using blunt objects. Our officers are interrogating him and he is going to lead us to the other suspects,” he said.
The County Commissioner said police have profiled 12 other suspects in Kisumu Central Sub-County who are still at large asking them to surrender to the nearest police station before the full arm of the law catches up with them.
“We know them and we have their mobile telephone numbers. I am giving them a last warning to surrender. If you think your name has been wrongfully mentioned, take advantage of this window and come to us so that we determine if indeed it is a mistaken identity,” he said.
Some of the suspects, he added, have threatened members of the public who are aware of their criminal activities and warned them against reporting to the police.
He asked all the victims not to fear but share the threats and messages with the police to ensure that the suspects are rounded up and charged.
Speaking at Obunga Sports grounds in Kisumu City during Mashujaa Day celebrations, Leparmorijo added that police have intensified patrols in the area to ensure that all criminal elements are weeded out.
He urged members of the public to volunteer information to the police to ensure that the joint operation called to restore peace and security in the lake side city is successful.
Besides the attacks, cases of burning sugarcane in farms in Muhoroni Sub-County, he said were on the rise with the affected farmers incurring losses worth millions of shillings.
Five suspects, he said, have been arrested in connection with the incidents, which, he said, were a threat to the economy of the county since sugarcane was a mainstay for thousands of families in the area.
He asked members of the public residing in the sugar belt to work hand in hand with the police to ensure that all the suspects are arrested.
On cattle rustling, the County Commissioner cautioned Veterinary officers against inspecting and stamping meat whose source is not authenticated.
“Some of the cattle that is stolen in Nyakach and Muhoroni ends up in our butcheries. That is why I am issuing a warning to our veterinary officers not to stamp any meat that has not come from our slaughter houses,” he said.
Speaking during the same occasion, Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili asked for calm and support to the security agencies in the area in dealing with the cases of insecurity.
Dr Owili said the insecurity was a concern to all the area residents adding that he has held meetings with the various security heads who have assured him that no stone will be left unturned.
“I want to assure you that our security agencies are on top of things and they will deal with this issue amicably so that security is restored,” he said.
– By Chris Mahandara, KNA
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