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Kenya: Ruiru Residents Hope for Lasting Peace As New Police Stations Built

Published

5 years ago

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Due to its large population and cosmopolitan nature occasioned by the high number of factories and proximity to Nairobi, Ruiru has become known for murders, human and drug trafficking, counterfeit goods, robberies and fraudsters.

Despite this, the region has very few security agents.

The constituency has for decades relied on Ruiru and Kimbo police stations and a handful of posts with about 152 officers, some deployed to guard banks and escort VIPs.

However, Ruiru could soon experience peace after area MP Ng’ang’a King’ara and the National Police Service (NPS) started upgrading police stations and building new ones.

DEPLOY POLICE OFFICERS

About a week ago, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Edward Mbugua officially opened Mwiki station in Githurai 45, built through the National-Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

Mr Mbugua pledged to deploy 40 officers to the station.

“I have instructed the Kiambu County police commander to provide this station with officers,” Mr Mbugua said.

Githurai 45 and surrounding areas, with a population of 300,000, are known for crime. The vast area was being served by Kimbo police station before the new one was built.

“Kimbo police post cannot meet the security demands of this area, which is big and with a growing population,” the deputy IG said.

Mr Kin’gara decried the poor police-public ratio.

THIKA HIGHWAY

He said the situation is made worse by activities on the busy Thika highway.

The MP added that the NG-CDF and the NPS are putting up more police stations in the constituency.

He said apart from Mwiki, other recently constructed police stations are Kahawa Sukari and Kwihota in Gatong’ora Ward.

He said Gitothua Police Station was opened but has been shut and officers withdrawn.

The MP said Mwihoko and Gatong’ora communities each offered an acre for the construction of police stations this financial year.

RISING INSECURITY

Mr King’ara added that the huge population and the busy Eastern bypass have contributed to a rise in insecurity in the two areas.

He said the NPS has agreed to build a police station in Gikumari, where locals have also promised to surrender a quarter acre.