Senator Abdillahi decries lack of cooperation between parents, security apparatus in Likoni

Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi at Mwahima Stadium on Saturday / BRIAN OTIENO

Likoni has been in the news headlines because of insecurity caused by juvenile gangs, but this would not have been the case had parents and security apparatus worked hand in hand.

Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi said Tuesday collaboration between parents and the security apparatus is at a premium, and that is why insecurity incidents are rampant in the sub-county.  

“This calls for a better approach in dealing with the children,” Abdillahi said.

Speaking to the Star newspaper, the UDA senator said prudent management of public resources will go a long way in alleviating the despair that youth have that push them to crime and other vices.

Abdillahi said drug barons have taken advantage of the social and economic injustice to lure the youth to drugs and substance abuse, exacerbating the problem.

She noted that resources that are meant to help the youth are diverted to other things, including individual pockets, creating despair, which makes the youth vulnerable.

For instance, piped water reaches households once a week in Likoni, denying people clean drinking water.

Abdillahi said: “When you scrutinize, you discover that there was money allocated for water infrastructure but was embezzled. This is information reaches youth but they can do little so they decide to become unruly, just to express their frustrations.”

The senator pointed an accusing finger at leaders saying instead of working for the benefit for the people who elected them, they work for their own benefit instead.

“The roads we have are not up to standard, denying expectant women the dignity of delivering in hospital because an ambulance could not reach where they were due to poor roads.

“When you ask around, you find those very roads that are not up to standards were budgeted for and in the books, it is written the road was repaired and is now smooth. That is the Kenya we live in,” she said.

She said when youth hear this, they become angry and frustrated, and end up abusing drugs to try and forget their suffering, which denies Kenya the human workforce that would have otherwise been productive.

The Climate Works project, which will create job opportunities for 3,000 youth should be used to try and address the despair that youth have.

“We also have the NYOTA project, which will benefit 70 youth per ward. Please, President William Ruto, help our Likoni youth so that they can leave this life of crime and become productive people in society,” she pleaded.

After the first edition of the Mama Haki Peace Cup last year, a total of 200 youth who operated in juvenile criminal gangs in Likoni surrendered to police after a meeting between the security apparatus and community leaders.

Public affairs strategist and security expert Jacob Elkana said for youth to feel valued and thought of, they must be involved in decision making and see that public resources benefit them.

“However, this is not the case. They see public resources being wasted, stolen left, right and centre, as they wallow in the miasma of poverty. This depresses them. The depression leads them to drug abuse, which corrupts their minds and they sometimes end up mugging people,” Elkana said.

He said corruption in government offices denies qualified people jobs.

“These jobs go to undeserving people, leaving deserving peole jobless and unable to fend for their families. This leaves their children vulnerable to manipulation because their parents cannot provide for them basic needs.

“A pedophile with money comes and lures them with basic needs like food and clothes and they end up being defiled, denying them the right to dignity,” Elkana said.

She also called on security apparatus to stop arbitrary arrests of youth in their swoops whenever an insecurity incident occurs.

“These swoops sweep even the innocent. And this is what creates bad blood between the community and the security apparatus,” Abdillahi said.

She acknowledged there are young people who engage in criminal activities but was quick to note that these are just but a small fraction of the youth, which should not cause the larger fraction to suffer.

“We all want peace. But arrested the innocent and making the spend nights in the cells does not only violate their rights but also make them develop a dislike for the security apparatus making it difficult for them to collaborate.

“These young people know who the bad apples are but will not volunteer that information yet they were arrested for going to the ship at night,” Senator Abdillahi said.

Echoing Abdillahi’s sentiments, Bakari Donali, a resident and community leader, said time has come for religious leaders to use their minbars and pulpits to preach peace and reconciliation, especially to the youth, who in most cases commit crime as a message to leaders.

“After one of their own is killed either through mob justice or by security officers extra-judicially, they retaliate by going on a hacking spree, hacking anyone they meet on the road and robbing them while on their way from the cemetery where they bury their own,” Donali said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

Likoni has seen recent insecurity events, including a large-scale gang raid last month where criminals armed with crude weapons assaulted residents and stole valuables, with some victims reporting being forced to provide their M-Pesa PINs.