Community policing has helped in bridging trust deficit, improve security Garissa residents, security actors say.
Residents of Garissa, security personnel and other partners in the sector have lauded community engagement forums which they say have played a key role in addressing matters security.
Paul Songok director county violence extremism said the forums are important because they provide a platform for community members to actively participate in decision-making processes affecting their lives like insecurity.
He spoke during a community engagement forum at Jamhuri park for residents of Garissa Township that was organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
He said the engagement forums have helped in bridging the trust deficit that had existed before between the security apparatus and the members of the public, something he noted has since seen a lot of sharing of information.
“You will agree with me that when the community decides to take maters security in their own hands, then insecurity in the community becomes a thing of the past,” he said.
Garissa Town and its environs had a few months ago witnessed a series of insecurity related incidences that had sent shock waves among the residents.
Cases of women being robbed in the wee hours while going to the market and while going back home were the order the day.
The situation has led to panic among residents who now close their businesses early.
Cases of youth being smuggled to Libya through absorbent routes were also on the rise prompting various stakeholders to come together activate community policing.
Deka Halima Hassan a member of the Nyumba kumi in Waberi East location noted that since the community engagements were started, there has been a marked improvement in terms of having that one on one trust between security and the community. We have also witnessed a lot of sharing of information,” he said.
“This community engagement forums have greatly helped in building trust between residents and the security personnel. We should not lie to ourselves that the police alone can take insecurity, our input is extremely important as we can see it is yielding fruits,” he said.
Mahboob Ahmed, an elder and also a member of the nyumba kumi implored on parents to take their parental responsibilities seriously blaming some of the insecurity challenges to parents who have neglected their responsibilities.
“Surely some parents are a big let down. some of the children and youth who are causing us all manners of problems in this town are as a result of not being brought up well by their parents. let us all discipline and guide our children so that they become good citizens of this country,” he said.
