Politicians warned over recruiting youths into gangs

Kirinyaga County Commissioner Jim Njoka has warned against politicians recruiting youths into a gang to settle their political scores.

Speaking to media at County Headquarters in Kerugoya, Njoka said he has identified some individuals and cautioned them against the vice.

He said politicians creating criminal gangs that may disrupt peace in the county will face the full force of the law regardless of their status.

“We shall arrest them regardless of their positions and if it means going to individual homesteads,” He added,

“We have no problem with the politicians in any way but they must follow the law when running their daily activities,” he added.

Njoka further warned bodaboda riders being funded by politicians that they will face the law as individuals.

“We are aware that some politicians are forming illegal groupings especially bodaboda riders to drive their agendas, I warned you bodaboda that you will personally take responsibility,” Njoka said.

On a higher number of killings registered in Kirinyaga, the commissioner said there is a collapse in moral set up adding that majority of people do not know the procedure of conflict resolution. He also added that financial challenges and drug abuse have largely contributed to the heinous act.

“It is saddening that recently Kirinyaga has been reporting a lot of killings especially by family members,”

“There is collapsed in morals somewhere and the majority don’t know where to take their conflicts for easy resolution,” he noted.

“Financial problems and drug abuse especial bhang has contributed to this in a way,”

He called upon stakeholders from political, religious, and counselors, to play their role in helping the people to solve their problems.

“This is a societal problem and I call all stakeholders from political, religious, and counselors to intervene and help our people,” he said.

Njoka noted Kirinyaga has a lot of resources such as coffee and tea.

“Our county is blessed with a lot of resources like tea and coffee, when you get money please don’t invest in alcohol, do development projects,” he concluded.