Mount Kenya University (MKU) has built a community policing centre in Thika that will also serve as a traffic police office at the Thika Police Station.
The centre was launched on Friday by the Area MP together with officials from Mount Kenya University as well as the County and National Governments on Friday.
The police post and traffic office are also expected to resolve road traffic issues as well as deepen relations between the police force and the community.
Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a officially commissioned the community policing facility, located on General Kago Road, next to MKU’s main campus.
She urged the residents including the institutions of learning to play part in enhancing security in the area.
“The success of this initiative will only come along when we all who are the stakeholders of this area work together to support this initiative. When you witness a crime and fail to report it, you are failing yourself and the community.
“So let us all embrace this new initiative as our programme for the good of all of us who are here today, tomorrow and in the future,” Nganga said.
“I am well aware of the rising number of higher education institutions of learning, the continued industrial growth within the Thika Town Constituency, as well as the rise in business network. I assure you as students at both the public and private institutions, the business community, residents and stakeholders of the total security that you need as you go about your varied businesses at all times.”
MKU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deogratius Jaganyi said both initiatives have been implemented under a public-private partnership involving the three parties.
“MKU will continue to forge synergetic partnerships with security organs in safeguarding peace and security in the community,” he said.
He added that the university will also facilitate the students and faculty to participate in security interventions, especially in 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 neighborhood 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.
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,” Prof Jaganyi said.
Perminus Kioi Kiambu County Police Commander said the new facility will help in reducing crime in the area which is where Mount Kenya University (MKU) is located.
Mr Kioi said it would bring the police officers closer to the people and others responding to emergencies and crime, it would deepen relations with the community.
“The facility will enhance community policing as police officers will engage with residents in non-emergency situations, such as community events or educational programmes,” Kioi said .
