Senior Bungoma AP officer meets Sinoko residents over insecurity concerns

Written by Daniel Saenyi

Security in Sinoko village in Bungoma is quite a major issue to the residents. The security forces have been urged to address this issue and the finally did the long awaited deed.The deputy AP commander Mr. Nashon Maliki made a tour in the area to identify the core factors for the high levels of insecurity in the area. While he addressed a security meeting in the area, Mr Maliki urged the residents to cooperate with the police to enable them to work appropriately as he implored them to be their neighbours’ keeper through community policing. "I urge all of you to befriend the police and be our informers so we can know what to do to beef up security," Said Mr. Maliki. Area chief, Mr. Joseph Cheng'oli said his main concern for security mishaps was lack of employment for the youth in the area that have nothing to do hence engage in lawlessness. He mainly encouraged the youth to utilise their talents to develop and explore different strategies like art and design for commercial use. “To all the youth, I call upon you not to do anything to hinder the rehabilitation of the Bungoma airstrip because it will soon be an economical zone and a source of employment.” Nashon Maliki the Deputy AP commander for Bungoma. “Utilise your talents like making bamboo arts and so forth so that you are not idle as an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. As you put your talents to use, the airport will be a good channel for the market of your art in future," Said Mr.Cheng'oli. Security issues have mostly been blamed on the youth in community as they have been made scape-goats for the society to point fingers for their misfortune. Many young people in the village have fallen in the hands of the law due to false accusations. As George Wekesa, a youngman from the area narrated, he has been harassed by the police six times in the past few years and he even spent 9 years in jail for what he claims to be false accusation. He added that the village is now lacking young people because they have run away for fear of false allegations. He further asked for development strategies for the youth because it is the only way to keep out of crime. If that is not enough for such a small village, bad leadership is the main factor for the society. Many complaints have been launched against the village headman for not performing his duty effectively. He is said to be unfit for his position, claims he highly dismissed as baseless and in bad faith aimed at discrediting his efforts. “The accusations made against me are based on jealousy by my rivals who want to spoil my name and dethrone me," Said Mr. Maurice Wanjala, the village head man. On her side, Ms Mary Kigan the head teacher of Sinoko primary school, pupils had acquired a bad behaviour saying the girls leave home for school but they never make it to the school gate as they change from their school uniforms and deviate to do their own stuff. “We have sponsored some children for their secondary school education but they end up dropping out of school without any solid reason, is this village bewitched?” Charged Kigen. Mrs Kigen also urged the women of Sinoko to start self help projects to increase their income and stop depending on their husbands as sole providers. Sinoko has always been seen as a quite serene environment for the citizens, but if one takes a closer look, they most definitely will not miss human skeletons hidden behind the closet of this small village.