Mombasa County Senator Mohamed Fakii, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, County peace committees and HAKI Africa have come out to strongly condemn the killing of Mohamed Mwatsau a.k.a Jirongo by armed criminal gangs, Mwatsau was a member of the peace committee in Kisauni sub county.
It is reported that eight youth armed with pangas and knives descended on Mr Mwatsau at his home on Thursday evening seriously injuring him. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to the injuries.
"Mr. Mwatsau was a law abiding citizen who worked closely with community and security authorities to promote peace and cohesion in Kisauni and Mombasa in general. His demise is a big blow to peace all over the county" said Mr Faiswal Bahero, Mombasa Island peace Committee chair.
"We hereby appeal to the police, particularly County Commander Mr Ipara, to pursue the attackers of Mohamed Mwatsau aka Jirongo and ensure they are arrested and charged in court. No person, youth or aged, should be allowed to get away with acts of violence and murder such as the one witnessed in the past week" he added.
Bahero also revealed that they will be holding public barazas all over the county in partnership with the administration and police to support peace and cohesion. The barazas are expected to kick off next week. This will also be in line with the new police reforms which they have proposed that community policing regulations be implemented first before the police start integrating with members of the public.
Bahero charged " While we appreciate and commend the recently announced police reforms, we appeal to the government to implement the reforms gradually and not at once. For the case of Mombasa, the situation is volatile at the moment and getting police integrated within communities right now may do more harm than good."
"We first request that community policing regulations be implemented so that we integrate the police command structure and county government with members of the public. We then appeal to the authorities to give the Peace committees some time to first roll out dialogue meetings to promote peace and security before rolling out the police integration plan" he added
On his part Senator Mohammed Faki called for the re introduction of the Nyumba kumi system arguing this will help in curbing insecurity.
"Its now high time we re-introduce the Nyumba kumi system, we are living in a society where we even don't know our neighbours and what they do" argued Faki.
He also called on Mombasa residents to be on the forefront on the fight against insecurity urging parents to play the central role and avoid shielding Children with criminal elements.
Faki charged "Security starts with us, we need to be all on the look out, we need to report any suspicious character to the police. As parents we also need to very concern about the behaviours of our children and not just be defending them".
Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir also called on the police to sped up investigations on Jirongo's murder and ensure those responsible are brought to book.
"It does not make sense someone just walks into the house and hacks someone. The government through the police need to come out and explain this to us, how does it happen with all those investments like the CCTVs. we need anwers" said Nassir
He also emphasized o the need for the government to first let the peace committees engage members of the public on the new police reforms and set the mood and environment before allowing the police to integrate with the community.
"You cannot just wake up and tell the police to now start integrating with members of the public, we will be creating disaster by doing so. Lets give the peace committees time to do their work first" argued Nassir.
"Imagine a police posted at Makupa police station being told to submit his gun at 3am at the station after his shift then head to his house in Shanzu, this is dangerous" he added
According to Haki Africa cass of insecurity have been on the rise especially i Kisauni, Mlaleo, Brasheba, Bakarani, Mtopanga, Vikwatani and Kiembeni among other places in Mombasa.
