Residents of Koinange have praised the community policing project, saying that it has worked for them.
Chairman Geoffrey Kimani said that the project has seen a huge decrease in crime and insecurity in the area.
Kimani says that they embraced the project ten years ago after an increased spate of robberies at gun point.
“We never used to walk at seven o’clock in the night. There used to be cases where we were attacked daily by robbers who would steal all our valuables. We were used to house break-ins until we decided to come together and fence our estate and employ security guards who protect us at night,” he added.
Kimani said that the Nyumba Kumi initiative can only work with the willingness of the people involved.
“One has to be committed to spend his time and money in the initiative. The government should work with willing people and should supply them with materials to create gated estates,” he added.
His secretary, Magdalene Waweru, said that there was need for the government to create more awareness about the project.
“They should use case studies like us to go and encourage people on the community policing. This will enable many of them t regard the project, especially when we narrate how we used to live in constant fear of attacks and spent sleepless nights,” she added.
Waweru cited that the area conducts a monthly security meeting to keep abreast with what is happening in the area.
“In the meeting one reports on anything she thinks is a security threat. After which we are able to discuss about it and chart a way forward,” she added.