Ever since Governor Mike Sonko was elected The Governor of Nairobi incidences of robbery and pickpocketing have shot up. In a single week several cases are reported within Nairobi CBD.Among areas affected most include, Odeon, Taveta Road, Moi Avenue, Kimathi Street, Muthurwa Market and Gikomba Market. All these incidences happen in broad daylight.
In Nairobi the following police stations exist:
Central Police Station.
2. Kamukunji Police Station.
3. Pangani Police Station.
4. Railway Police Station.
5. Starehe/Kariakor.
6. Parklands Police Station.
7. Nyayo Police Station….formerly under Lang’ata Police Station.
8. Nairobi Area Police Station.
9. CID Headquarters.
10. Muthaiga Police Station.
11. Jogoo Road Police Station.
12. Parliament Police Station.
13. Kilimani Police Station.
14. Muthurua Police Station.
15. Vigilance House, the Headquarters.
What is more shocking is that police officers are positioned at strategic locations within CBD.The same officers patrol each and every street yet they can’t identify any pickpocketer.
As the situation worsens, Kenyans have called upon the Governor to come up with ways and modalities of ending this menace. We have our suggestions.
- The government should mark hotspots and station police officer at strategic locations
A special police unit should be formed to specifically deal with muggers, pickpocketers and robbers. These officers should be given shoot to kill powers, such that if someone is spotted pickpocketing, they should be taken to hell/heaven immediately. The reason shoot to kill will work is that robbers won’t get a chance to defend themselves in court and later come out to terrorize people.
- Remove Hawkers from Nairobi CBD
It has been noted that some of the hawkers in Nairobi are part of the gang.These guys wake up from Dandora, Kayole, Kibera,Umoja and Kariobangi with the aim of making money at all costs.They go to Gikomba,buy some stuff and take them to the CBD.Their main intention is not to sell the products but to monitor movements of customers. Some of the hawkers would alert their accomplices whenever a heavily loaded customer purchases an item from them.
It’s quite interesting that when hawkers are not in CBD, robbery cases are shockingly low.
- Functional CCTV camera
CCTV camera should be placed in every corner of the CBD.Someone must be employed to monitor every activity so that in case an incident is repoted,the police in patrol will be alerted. I understand that there are CCTV cameras in the CBD but I am not sure they are functional-if they were, it could be easier to identify robbers.
- Ban Bodaboda from Nairobi CBD
Finally, all bodaboda should be banned from CBD…they are part of the problem.
What irritates me most is that these guys ride in wrong direction and they are very rude. Sometimes they are used to carry robbers whenever a crime is committed.
- Mob justice should be embraced
I know this looks awkward but looking at robbery incidences, I would gladly recommend mob justice.One thing robbers in Nairobi are sure of is that whenever they are violently robbing someone, the crowd won’t come for the rescue of the person.The robbers do their job with impunity.In Nairobi you can be robbed in front of 1000 people and the only thing people would do is to take pictures.The reason you won’t get help is that Nairobians understand the Law, they know that in case they are arrested due to mob justice, the law will take its course.