Why Rabuor Sinaga Area must now embrace community policing to curb growing insecurity

Why Rabuor Sinaga Area must now embrace community policing to curb growing insecurity
BEN OTIENO AND JOHN OKINDA

RABUOR SINAGA AREA is a potential security risk area even though it has developed very fast within a period of less than ten years, to the admiration of many across the country. Notable criminal activities reported in the area range from robbery with violence, murder, and burglary and cattle stealing, just to mention a few. These criminal activities have now placed the area (RSA) on a bad map as many admirers of the area start to view the area as a serious security risk where both life and property are at the mercy of the thugs.

Ironically, all these activities have been taking place despite the area having a police patrol base at Sinaga for over ten years now and recently an administration police camp at Sagam. What disturbs many locals and outsiders is that despite these reinforcements, the level of insecurity has not dropped to manageable proportions. There are still cases of robberies and burglary being reported.

There are some worse cases of crime that have taken place in the area in the recent past, which are still fresh in the minds of residents and families. The murder of veteran politician Mr. Elijah Obare Asiko, burglary at Sagam Community Hospital and RSA Community Fund, theft at Mr.Owiro Zephania and home that left him wounded. The thugs who murdered Mr. Asiko had the guts to strike again and seriously wounded and robbed Mrs. Asiko of valuables.These and many other cases have caused a major concern to residents.

Locals also claim that suspects don’t face justice and more often than not, they go scot-free. Recently, a Siaya court sentenced four suspects arrested in connection with the robbery at Mrs. Mary Asiko’s residence at Ahono, near Rabuor shopping center. The four, who were not represented, were found guilty of violently robbing Mrs. Asiko and inflicting injuries on her.This was a notable case where justice was seen to have been fairly applied.

But sentencing the four by the court is not enough. The situation in the village is more worrying than ever. People can no longer sleep in peace because thieves could strike anytime of the night to steal, murder and beat you senseless. The old practice where if a neighbour raised an alarm that thieves were striking and the whole village would be up and in hot pursuit of the thugs is no longer there.

“Things have changed so much these days that when you raise alarm, no one comes to your rescues, not even your neighbour. Instead of responding, they re-enforce their door locks till the day time that’s when they fill your home to check whether you were killed or robbed,” said one resident who recently lost his cattle to thieves.This is a clear indication that people are so afraid even to shout from inside their houses or they have become so individualistic not to care what happens to their neighbours.This attitude must change and the old spirit of community pulling together should be embraced. “Community members must learn to be their ‘neighbour’s keepers’ if insecurity has to be contained. Thugs have taken advantage of this ‘I don’t care attitude’ and gone ahead to steal, maim and murder even as early as 10pm as they know that nobody will respond even if an alarm is raised,” said Otieno from Ahono.

Residents also say that the security forces are not blameless either. As much as they are part of the solution, they are equally part of the problem. The police have been accused or not doing enough patrols at night and responding at snail’s pace when cases of robberies are reported. “The police and Chiefs respond swiftly when a report about chang’aa is given but not of theft” said a resident.

Locals attribute this to corruption in the force because the chang’aa brewer will part some bribe and this is what the Kenyan police enjoy most. The provincial administration has also failed in there work. They have not taken security matters seriously sine they are the same people who involve in acts which compromise security. “How do you expect the Chief and his team to arrest the same people they go with to drinking sprees every day? We see a lot of double standards and selective application of the law by the provincial administration. We as residents will soon start naming names and forward them to Nairobi for further action” One furious resident of Jina Sub-location told CNS recently.

There is a general feeling among the locals that the thugs don’t come by themselves, but have their linkmen in the communities, who in most cases are idle youth. They spend most of their time at changaa dens or at shopping centers where they monitor and compile intelligence on how and where to rob. Parents have very clear information that their sons are involved in criminal activities yet they are not ready to admit. To date, there are no vigilante groups worth writing home about. Previous vigilantes were disbanded when locals accused them of either colluding with the thugs or turning to thugs themselves.

“I was once stopped by someone who claimed to be a member of the village vigilante a few years back just a few meters from my gate on my way to work at about 5am.I was heading to Kisumu and decided to walk towards Rabuor when I heard someone rushing trying to catch up with me. Before long, a voice shouted “mama simama hapo,unaenda wapi na umetoka wapi? The voice sounded familiar and I knew the person, so I responded and asked him why he was stopping me from going about my business. When he realized I had discovered him, he pretended to be laying an ambush to arrest changaa dealers who were purportedly ferried the illicit at dawn to other markets. Robbery along the main road had reported and many locals had fallen victims and lost cash and valuables. That is when I realized some of the recruits into vigilantes were actually thieves who only used their privilege to serve in the vigilantes to rob locals.” Said Mary Asiko.

There is a lot that needs to be done both by the community and the security agents since security is a collective responsibility that everyone must participate to restore.



Community Policing: A new approach to safety and security
n LINUS ONYANGO.

THE EVER-INCREASING cases of insecurity in various parts of the country have been blamed on lack of cooperation between members of the public and the law enforcement officers in combating crime. It has always been wrongfully argued that the business of maintaining law and order lies with the police and not the mwananchi. However, the true position is that the public is equally expected to play a policing role just as the police.

A new approach that has been adopted to emphasize this is the concept of community policing, which was recently launched by President Mwai Kibaki. It emphasizes on a partnership between the public and the police in combating crime and the maintenance of law and order.

The first step in realizing this is changing the perceptions and attitudes of both the police and the public towards each other. It emphasizes on creating a more professional police force and a responsible community in an open and accountable partnership aimed at enhancing community safety. It also emphasizes on the active participation of various sectors of the community such as community elders, civil society organizations, religious leaders, provincial administration, the youth, women, special groups, the police and the public at large.

The idea is based on the premise that the public should give information to the police on crime trends in a particular area for possible action by the police. Since criminals live within the community, it is members of that community who should give information to the possible about them for action against them.

A case of success in community policing is the program in Kibera in Nairobi being undertaken by Saferworld, Security Research Information Center (SRIC), Kenya Police, Administration Police, Provincial Administration, Kibera Community Development Agenda, PEACE-NET, religious and community leaders and members of the public. After the launch of the program a few months later, an information box was installed in Kibera to enable members of the public to drop in vital information on crime for further action by the police.

The main role of the community is to identify criminals and report to the security agencies. Community policing does not mean the public taking action into their hands or arresting people. Rabuor-Sinaga Area that has been plagued with a series of criminal activities could try this approach and see the benefits. There are numerous organizations that can be approached, like the ones mentioned above to assist with logistics, awareness and capacity building for community members and other identified stakeholders.

The writer is the coordinator of Kibera Community Development Agenda and the Editor of ‘The Kiberan’ magazine.



Tips on how to start community policing today
n PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
COMMUNITY policing is a new approach to security where police and community work together to solve crime and enhance safety in a given area, which could be a residential or business place. The focus is on devising joint solutions to policing matters.

Whereas it is hardly a new approach, for it has been used in the developed countries, it’s acceptance in Kenya marks a radical shift from the traditional police –based to service-based approach to address security issues.

The underlying philosophy is that people deserve and have a right to a real say in policing in exchange for their involvement and support.

How to start a community policing forum
A group of like-minded people-business people, community leaders, leaders of community based organizations-come together to address issues of security in their residential or business places. After identifying the common problem, the group contacts the community-policing unit. Once this is a done, joint workshop will follow that will help sensitize the community.

How he public can participate
[ Volunteering information on suspicious individuals or activities
[ Safeguarding your own neighborhoods by forming security watch schemes
[ Working closely with the police through community policing forums
[ Encouraging greater contacts between neighbours
[ Supporting victims of crime through counseling
[ Not taking the law into your own hands


How does community-policing work?
[ Police and community representatives undertake joint education and capacity building programs
[ Response teams are trained to move fast against criminals or suspicious individuals
[ Problems are solved following consultations between police and community
[ There is a wider focus on vulnerable groups likely to be victims, such as women and children.

The quality of future Chiefs and Sub-Chiefs

n COMMUNITY TIMES CORRESPONDENT

THE recent launch of a new strategy expected to radically redefine past initiatives against crime by the government will see an almost complete overhaul of the police force and certain sections of the provincial administration. Following a recent announcement by security minister John Michuki that the government may re-introduce the Chief’s Act as a way of combating the increasing crime wave in the country.

But the future of the current crop of the chiefs remains uncertain with the proposed changes. According to the government, the overhaul will see majorities of the current chiefs go and a new crop recruited to take up their positions. For one to qualify to serve as a Chief or an Assistant Chief, he or she must meet the following qualities:
[ Good customer care, public relations and prompt attention to public issues.
[ Knowledgeable and competent in articulation of Government policy
[ Command of public respect, integrity, discipline and accountability
[ High commitment to public safety, security and maintenance of law and order
[ Respect for rule of law, human, children and gender rights
[ Prompt conflict resolution and peace building
[ Effective handling of land and domestic matters
[ Commitment, Honesty, Innovation, Effectiveness and Focus (Chief acronym) in service delivery.
[ Good track record of support for development, entrepreneurship, wealth creation and employment creation
[ Role models who “walk the talk’ at local level.