Share news tips with us here at Hivisasa

Security chiefs at the Athi River's Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) should be more careful to ensure that the institution is provided with total security.

This statement was made on Wednesday by Athi River's senior assistant county commissioner, Philip Lemalasia, who said there could be a security lapse at EPZA.

"How come that suspects can allegedly gain entry into the institution, paralyse operations of some of the companies and escape without getting arrested," asked Lemalasia.

He was referring to an incident that occurred at the EPZA on Saturday morning when one person was arrested and held at Athi River Police Station for allegedly being a member of a terror group.

There was tension at the institution that morning prompting employees from several companies threaten to lynch the suspect who was rescued by police officers after lobbing teargas at the agitated employees who claimed the man belonged to the group.

Several companies were immediately closed down that day as speculations went round the company that five other people who were said to be with the man were still within the EPZA premises.

The arrested man was later released after police said there was nothing that could link him with the group adding that he was a casual at the ongoing road construction within the institution.

Lemalasia said there is dire need for any security gap within the institution to be immediately sealed so as not to take any chance adding that consequences would be unimaginable.

He noticed that access into the institution has for a long time been such casual that it is not easy to tell employees of companies within the institution and strangers or guests.

"Not much security checks are conducted by security officers within the region especially to those employees who access the institution through one of the gates located at the back of the institution. In most cases, women who turn up late for work enter the compound literally running thereby ending up not getting frisked. Security chiefs should change this," said Lemalasia.