Western PC Samuel Kilele addresing Kenyans at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County during the 49th Madaraka Celebrations. Photos | John Kabaka

Western Provincial Commissioner Samuel Kilele has said terrorism and crime was a threat to national security and development and asked residents to be extra vigilant and report suspicious characters in their midst.

Addressing Madaraka day celebrations at Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega, Kilele said security was not the work of police alone adding the public need to be cautious of the surrounding and cooperate with the security agencies in information sharing.

He said communities living around the country’s borders of Malaba, Busia, Lwakhakha and Sio-Port should volunteer intelligent information of strangers in their midst to the police.

He also asked operators of hotel lodgings and guest houses across the region to keep an updated record of daily visitors to their premises to help the security agents to keep track of suspicious visitors.

On crime, the PC said ordered local administrators to activate the community policing in the area to help restore sanity. He said rising incidents of armed crime in the area will be addressed through the cooperation between the public and police cooperation.

He urged the public to shun political violence and exercise tolerance saying every Kenyan had a right to live wherever he is and express his political rights.

He challenged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to live up to the expectation of its mandate as per the Constitution.

“This is the time for the commission to prove its worth by ensuring that merchants of hate speech and incitement face the full face of the law,” said Kilele.

From left the Kakamega County Council Chair John Shimaka,Mayor Mathias Sichele, area Mp Manyala Keya and the Kakamega County Commisioner marking the Madaraka Day celebrations

Addressing the same gathering, assistant minister Manyala Keya said the country was big enough for every Kenyan adding tribalism should not be allowed to destroy the gains made over the past 49 years.

He said the next poll provides another opportunity for Kenyans to choose their fourth president and challenged NCIC to ensure that right is not trampled on by leaders out to win the votes by attrition.

“Nobody will be elected to lead this country by advocating ethnicity. We have had three presidents. The late Jomo Kenyatta was tough and a no-nonsense leader. Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki share a similar trait of tolerance and moderation and their leadership has driven the country to this development” He said.

The celebrations were also attended by the region’s police boss Benson Kibui Githinji, Kakamega county commissioner Albert Kobia, Kakamega municipal council Mathias Sichele, Kakamega county council chairman John Shimaka among other top regional officers.

Pupils from a Bungoma North school who were more than the residents in marking the celebrations. Photo | Eric Lumbasi

Bungoma North residents fail to celebrate, blame high inflation

In Bungoma North, the Day had less zeal as student’s attendance overrode the senior citizens, who opted to concentrate on their daily activities that usually help earn a living.

A cross section of the speakers who took over to the podium blamed on the rise in inflation and escalating food prices to have caused many of them not to appreciate and attend such national holidays.

However, the Bungoma North District Commissioner Mutua Mbela expressed optimism that the government is ready to work closely with residents so as to attain Vision 2030 thus make every Kenyan live comfortably. He further said that to help curb crime in the region the government has now established a police division at the districts headquarter- Mukuyuni.

 '' I call upon all the residents with vital information to visit the police division so as to help the officers keep our district crime free'' said Mutua Mbela. He further disclosed that with the construction of new offices at the headquarter the ministry of immigration will have its office situated there to help those seeking birth and death certificates who used to seek the services in Bungoma town.