A business owners association in Nakuru has petitioned local security agents to provide security for the local business people.
The chairman of the Mawanga-Teachers Business Owners Association (MATEBOA) that was launched recently, James Maina, has decried the increased robbery incidences in the twin residential areas that target business operators.
He petitioned the Nakuru police boss Bernard Kioko and the county commissioner Mohammed Birik to address the issue urgently. While accompanied by other officials of the association during a familiarity tour with members’ business locations and operations in the area, Maina said most business owners in the area were over concerned with insecurity.
“We fear that this trend may force some of us out of business. Many business operators are already counting losses yet the situation keeps deteriorating. We want security organs in this region to address our plight as a matter of urgency,” said Maina.
He added that the association will soon hand in a written petition to the County Security Committee.
Maina said that according to records from the last few months, business owners in the area had lost almost half a million shillings in cash, goods and other property to armed robbers who seem to operating freely without fear of security agents.
He added that the local police never respond to calls of distress nor do they follow up investigations after business owners report robbery incidences to them.
He cited two recent incidents, one, where armed robbers riding motorbikes, injured a business woman and robbed her of Sh20,000 in cash at an electronics shop and the most recent one where masked gunmen raided several alcohol selling joints and terrorised patrons and attendants.