Security boost in Thika town as MKU-funded police post, traffic office, are ready.
In partnership with the National Government and the County Government of Kiambu, Mount Kenya University (MKU) has built a community policing facility in Thika. It has also built a traffic police office at the Thika Police Station.
Confirming this , MKU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deogratius JAGANYI, says both initiatives have been implemented under a public-private partnership involving the three parties. Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a will officially commission the community policing facility, located in Thika’s Industrial Area on General Kago Road, next to the university’s main campus. Prof JAGANYI says MKU “ will continue to forge synergetic partnerships with security organs in safeguarding peace and security in the community”. He adds that the university will also facilitate the students and faculty to participate in security interventions, especially in the emerging security threats, such as cybercrime.
MKU’s funding of the construction of the Industrial Area community policing facility and traffic police office in Thika is a community outreach project expected to enhance the safety and security of residents, including students. The university, in close consultation with the police, provided all the building materials and labour that was used to set up the facility.
Prof JAGANYI explains that while initially the facility was intended to be a patrol base, the need for devolving more services to the community led to its expansion to what it is now. The political leaders, that is, the county government, area MP, and MCA, were instrumental in the whole process.
The MKU vice-chancellor says the university expects the community to enjoy improved security due to regular patrols, rapid response from the police in case of an emergency, and reduction of crime since members of the community are able to provide information quickly regarding suspicious activities.
Other academic institutions within the neighbourhood stand to benefit due to the proximity of the police.
MKU made a request last year to the interior ministry to beef up security around the university and the neighbourhood. The ministry approved the establishment of a community policing facility near the university’s main campus in Thika town. Prof JAGANYI says students and members of the surrounding
communities have been falling prey to incidents of crime. MKU, says the don, is cognisant of its responsibility to impact the welfare of the communities that surround it. The university neighbours General Kago Primary School, Thika High School, Thika Level-5 Hospital, several colleges, Bidco Africa, and other industries.
“One of the challenges that our stakeholders and the community contend with is the issue of rising insecurity. This was the motivation that informed the university management to mobilise resources
from the Board of Directors to establish a community policing facility that will bring security services closer to the people,” says Prof JAGANYI.
Adding his voice, MKU Dean of Students, Emmanuel Owuor, says the Industrial Area community policing facility “will solve some of the problems of security around the university on General Kago Road. The presence of the facility, he points out, will be a deterrent to potential criminals.
Mr. Owuor urges students to support policing efforts by giving information to police; forming residential security zones; and coordinating with their leaders whenever there is a security issue.
eongwae@ke.nationmedia.com
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