Motivational talk for youth official Usama Ali Hassan during a youth forum in Majengo. [Photo/ Maxwell Ngala]
Women should fully be involved in all activities geared towards curbing insecurity within Mombasa County, a youth organisation has said.Speaking during a forum at Majengo in Mombasa on Sunday, an executive member of the organization, Motivational talk for youth, said women are very instrumental in persuading youth to shun criminal activities.Usama Ali Hassan said security agents and the county administration should involve women when visiting crime-prone areas to talk to youth about the negative impact of engaging in crime.Usama argued that the fight against juvenile gangs in Mombasa has proved futile because women have been left out in the campaign.“Our mothers fully understand how their children behave as they grow up. If we give them the chance to provide counselling services, then we will succeed in this course,” said Usama.Usama said the crime rate in Old Town has gone down because women spearheaded the fight against crime in the area by providing counsellingservices to youth.“We can give an example of Haki Africa’s gender and children’s rights activist Salma Hemed who took the lead in persuading youth within Old Town area to shun criminal activities. Her positive impact on the youth is visible,” added Usama.Usama said insecurity is the major challenge facing Mombasa, citing the emergence of juvenile gangs in Majengo, Old Town, Kisauni, Likoni and Changamwe.He said for the social problem to be tamed, there was the need to involve women in security campaigns.