9pm curfew in Kisumu town over rising crime

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY JUSTUS OCHIENG

KISUMU residents are living in fear as gangs rob, kill and maim innocent people. In Nyalenda estate, an unofficial curfew has been put in place from 9pm as shopkeepers and small traders close shop in fear of attack.
On Monday night, two computers were stolen from the personnel department at the Nyanza Provincial headquarters where the PC and Nyanza AP commander James Mwaniki have their offices despite the presence of Administration Police officers.
This comes barely two months after a CCTV server was stolen at the same provincial headquarters where governor Jack Ranguma and his deputy Ruth Odinga have got offices.

On Tuesday night, a man was hacked to death by a gang at the fly over under construction close to the Kondele police station. On Sunday night, a 40-year-old man was hacked to death at Migosi estate and his body stuffed in a sack with both hands and legs tied.
Kisumu police boss Musa Kongoli said they have since arrested three suspects in connection to the incident. Two Weeks ago a banker Syanaslaus Ndeto, 31, was shot in the head and died as he was closing the gate after a gang tried to access his neighbours home.
 Yesterday, Nyalenda A wardr epresentative Jackton Onunga said a routine curfew has arisen in the area due to fear of attacks and theft. “We have witnessed a number of murders not only in Nyalenda A but also Nyalenda B and we attribute this to laxity on the side of the security personnel,” Onunga told the Star yesterday.
Onunga said last Week a man was hacked to death at Kanyakwar-Kachok area and his private parts chopped off. He revealed that the security in the area was worse even at day time “as women are the main target from 2pm in the day.”
“It is unfortunate that the gangs walk freely wielding panga’s, swords and knives even during the day in this area but the police and the local provincial administration have done nothing to save the situation,” said Onunga.
Carjackings, robberies and rapes across the town have also been reported but very little done by the security operatives to handle the situation. The goons force their victims to reveal their Automated Teller Machines pin numbers before withdrawing money from their accounts.
Two women were carjacked in the posh Milimani Estate and gang raped. Recently, Kisumu deputy governor Ruth Odinga’s PA Catherine Odoyo was carjacked within the Central Business District but the vehicle was later recovered.
Odinga called on the police to bolster security in the region to restore public confidence. The wide spate of criminal activities in the area is occurring even as the murder of late businessman cum politician Shem Kwega remains unsolved. Kwega was shot dead by armed gangsters as he was driving to town accompanied by his wife last year.