Residents of Kisumu County have been called upon to actively participate in community policing as a strategy to enhance security in their neighborhoods.
Speaking during a community policing sensitization event at Kondele Roundabout on Wednesday, March 25, Ignatius Wendo, founder of the Steps of Hope initiative and Officer Commanding Magombo Police Station in Nyamira County, emphasized that security is a shared responsibility.
Wendo, who recently launched a six-county community policing walk, urged residents to know their neighbors and work closely with authorities to maintain peace.
“We are discussing the essence and importance of community policing in society. Security is a shared responsibility, and peace is our collective duty,” he said.
The peace walk, which began on March 19 at Nyambaria High School, aims to promote awareness on security and discourage youth from engaging in criminal activities or political goonism. Wendo warned that goons and thugs often exploit demonstrations to attack police stations, which he stressed belong to the public and play a vital role in maintaining law and order.
Youth, he said, should avoid behaviors that could harm their future, promoting instead coexistence and peaceful engagement within their communities.
Supporting Wendo’s initiative, George Obiero, Chief Security Officer for TukTuk in the Nyanza region and Kondele resident, praised the approach, noting that community policing has been instrumental in curbing crime in the area.
“The community policing led by Wendo has a good approach. We are ready to support him because we only want peace,” Obiero said.
Meanwhile, Kondele Police Station Officer-in-Charge Daniel Ogechi advised boda boda operators to exercise caution by knowing their customers, particularly at night, and avoid carrying strangers who request payment upon arrival. He urged riders to work closely with the police to prevent loss of life and property.
