Traders and residents of Kithimu Ward in Embu County have raised an alarm over rising cases of insecurity that have led scores to losing their livelihoods to marauding criminal gangs.

The disgruntled locals claimed that armed gangs had taken control and were terrorizing them at will at their business premises and homes where they rob them of their hard-earned money and home appliances.

So serious is the issue that hundreds of traders within Kithimu Market on Monday afternoon closed their business and held a meeting to chart the way forward.

During the meeting with area MCA Julius Karuri, some of the victims recounted their ordeals in the hands of thugs as they pointed an accusing finger at the security agencies in the area over laxity and poor response in times of distress calls.

“We have nowhere to run to. You close your business before dusk to avoid falling prey to thugs, only for your home to be broken into at night,” lamented business lady Ann Rwamba whose house was broken into two weeks ago where cash and other valuables were stolen.

She said three men armed with crude weapons broke into her home which is around 100 meters from the police post after disconnecting power and demanded she hands over her Mpesa money which she did to avoid being harmed.

“I am now contemplating moving out of my home to go and rent a house in a safe place,” the desperate woman said.

Another trader, David Nyaga, said he was lucky once to recover Sh500,000 stolen from his petroleum business, but was not as lucky a week ago after Sh120,000 was stolen from his Mpesa shop.

He said the crimes were being propagated by individuals from within and it was paramount that they now work jointly and institute self-policing measures.

“We must say enough is enough because these criminal elements come from around and are well known to some of us and we must expose them to restore order in Kithimu,” Nyaga said.

MCA Karuri called on the National Government to intervene and more so ensure police in the area were provided with a patrol vehicle to ensure they are able to respond quickly whenever called upon.

He also called on traders to be vigilant and report any suspicious characters or activities to authorities for action to be taken.

Karuri said they were in the process of formulating a bill in the County Assembly that would among other provisions give local business committees power to vet new investors as well as give them clearance in order to be allowed to operate by the County Government.

Source: Kenya News Agency