Following insecurity incidents that have skyrocketed in Trans Nzoia, Governor George Natembeya has urged police officers to use force while dealing with armed criminals and smoke them out in order to bring sanity to the county.
Addressing the media after the security meeting at the county headquarters, Natembeya said criminals have taken over the town with guns and that it is time for them to be “taken back to their creator” and allow business people to operate peacefully.
“These criminals killed three business people here in town two weeks ago, and this week they have come back. It seems their time to go back to their creator is approaching, and we shall help them go back to their creator slowly. We have no problem. “We can’t stand it; we’re in Trans-Nzoia, Kenya, not Somalia, where criminals carry guns during the day,” Natembeya grumbled.
The county boss also challenged the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to refrain from interfering with police officers’ duties, saying police officers should protect themselves alongside Wananchi.
He said that criminals armed with guns should be killed to protect innocent Kenyans.
“If IPOA can put themselves in the shoes of the police, they will understand what I am talking about when it comes to security issues of life and death, and we have talked with security officers and criminals’ days are numbered, we want our people to enjoy the 24 hour business environment without fear for their lives,” Natembeya stated.
He urged Wananchi to collaborate with police officers to curb the insecurity cases within the county.
Trans Nzoia County Commissioner, Mathews Rioba, said they have increased the number of police officers to deal with gun criminals who have infiltrated the county without fear.
The commissioner said that police officers will offer free services to business people when approached through the right procedure to escort them to the bank.
Criminals posing as customers and armed with guns robbed and killed an Indian businessman in the Kitale Central Business District two weeks ago.
This week, another criminal armed with a gun robbed an Indian businessman who was heading to the bank, where they escaped with cash using the motorbike.
Mike Musungu is a reporter at Radio Simba in Bungoma and a correspondent of Trans Nzoia County for the Western Kenya Times.
