Police in Kiambu County have launched a crackdown on dens selling narcotics to locals.
Starting on Monday, 29 May 2023, officers carried out raids in various places, including Mwihoko in Kiambu County, where they arrested two people.
Locals in Mwihoko said the plainclothes officers arrived in a white double-cab pick-up and randomly raided various shops suspected
“They came here and made arrests while others continued to search the premises for any kind of drugs,” said Mr Kevin Mutua, a local in Mwihoko.
For months, locals in Mwihoko have been raising concerns about rising crime in the area, accusing the police of sleeping on the job.
In mid-March, three robbers on a motorbike attacked a woman on her way home and stole valuable items from her.
In the incident, which was caught on CCTV, the woman had just disembarked from a matatu and was knocking on her gate when she was approached by the three.
“It is really dangerous here, many incidents of people stealing and using motorbikes to escape have been reported,” said Mr Danvas Makori, a local.
In Githurai, plainclothes police officers also raided a number of drug dens on Tuesday 30 May 2023.
Locals have welcomed the continuous raids on various dens, saying it will reduce the crime rate in the neighbourhood.
“Imagine, the young men wake up and go straight to the dens where bhang is sold and spend the whole day there. How do they make money and still manage to be in the dens?” asked one local.
On 8 May 2023, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua met with a number of leaders from the vast Mount Kenya region to discuss the fight against drugs and counterfeit alcohol.
On that day, all five counties affected by illicit brewing and drug abuse in central Kenya agreed to develop a common legislation to deal with the menace.
DP Gachagua announced that the fight against the menace would start in Central and later spread to Rift Valley, Eastern and Nairobi.
