Haki Africa gender and children's’ rights officer Salma Hemed during a peace and security forum in Old town, Mombasa. [Photo/ Maxwell Ngala].
Gender and children rights activists in the Coast region have raised fears that cases of insecurity in Mombasa may reemerge following the lapse in security and livelihood programmes implemented by the political leadership in the county.The activists said the programmes that were launched in May and June this year positively impacted the community and encouraged youth to shun criminal activities, but the politicians and security agents have now abandoned the youth.Haki Africa gender and children rights officer Salma Hemed said it was unfortunate that the county leadership and security agents have left human rights activists to tackle the societal issues in the county alone.Hemed said though the livelihood programme was very successful in Old town, some areas like Floringi, Bondeni and Majengo within Mvita constituency were left out, and youth have been engaging in crime and giving locals sleepless nights.“We implement these peace and security programmes with the help of donors and well-wishers but if the programmes come to an end, the county government and the security department should revive them so that youth do not return to their old ways,” said Hemed.Hemed said already cases of Majengo juvenile gangs fighting Old town youth at night have been reported, an issue she said should be solved immediately before Mombasa goes back to being a crime den.“Our leaders are quiet, the livelihood projects we launched as Haki Africa among them car wash and other small kiosk businesses for the rehabilitated youth are very few and cannot absorb all the unemployed youths in these areas,” she said.She appealed to the security agents, the county and national government as well as political leaders in Mombasa to fully concentrate on how to deter youth from joining criminal gangs.The activist noted that unemployment was the major contributing factor to insecurity in Mombasa, adding that youth should be fully empowered economically.