Residents of Kangema Constituency, Murang’a County have been urged to embrace community policing as part of efforts to curb rising cases of insecurity including rising cases of livestock and coffee theft.

The area National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), led by the Kangema Sub County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Thomas Nyoro have said enhanced cooperation between the public and security agencies will help identify and address criminal activities within the area.

“We need to embrace community policing which can only succeed through the collective efforts between the public and security agencies,” Nyoro said.

The DCC also challenged residents to actively participate in security meetings whenever they are convened, adding, “When we convene security barazas the attendance has remained very poor yet this the only avenue where we can effectively address our security challenges and find lasting solutions.”

Nyoro revealed that from a series of meetings held with coffee farmers and their cooperatives, it emerged that the farmers themselves were perpetuating coffee theft.

“As a farmer you sell your coffee to brokers, the same people will steal your cherry and sell to other farmers because there is no traceability, we therefore must stop selling our coffee outside the laid down procedure,” he said.

Nyoro further said that the administration will conduct crackdowns to nab unlicensed coffee brokers. “We are going to conduct crackdowns targeting unlicensed coffee brokers suspected of purchasing coffee directly from farms because this is against the established regulations catalyzing the cherry theft,” he said.

The Sub County Police Commander Lydiah Wanjiru urged residents to take responsibility for safeguarding their communities and homes so as to deter perpetrators.

“Safeguard your home, ensure there your compound is gated and your animals are secure. If you suspect or notice something unusual, report it to the village elders who will in turn escalate the same for a safer and secure community,” she said.

On livestock theft, Wanjiru wondered how animals are just driven away, without even a village dog barking, adding, “The conspiracy is right inside our homes and that is where we need to start the community policing.”

On his part, the Kangema Member of Parliament Peter Kihungi has linked the reported increase in coffee theft to improved coffee earnings, saying the better payments have made the crop an attractive target for thieves.

Kihungi called on security officers to step up surveillance and ensure coffee farmers are protected from losing their produce to criminals.

“Security starts with you and it is extremely important that we embrace community policing because if you conceal crime it will affect you one day,” he said.

“The government is ready to work with you and curb these cases of insecurity, but we must volunteer vital information because in most cases the people who perpetuate these crimes live amongst us and are known to us,” he said.

The MP has further urged the relevant authorities to take firm action against individuals involved in stealing coffee from farmers’ farms, because this was making farmers not to benefit fully from the improved earnings made from the crop.

By Florence Kinyua