Tension in Kitale as security deteriorates during curfew hours

It is barely a month since the government executed the dark
to dusk curfew, and the security situation across the country has turned controversial,
with many residents crying foul of the rising theft cases.

In Kitale, Trans Nzoia county, residents miss the peaceful
sleep that was before implementation of the curfew. Many shops have been broken and goods worth millions
of shillings stolen –majorly food staffs.

On Monday night, the shoplifters broke into a butchery and a
grocery at Machinjoni area, making away with meat sacks of potatoes, tomatoes
onions, charcoal and raw banana.

“A good number of this cases reveal that these people are
into food. My salon was broken but nothing was picked. Everything is there they
are interested in food. The government should look for a way to ensure everyone
is supplied with food during this hard times,” said a salonist in Machinjoni
center.

A distance away in Mitume area, the situation is also the
same. Many shops have been broken as shop owners say it started immediately the
day the curfew was implemented.

Butchery in Machinjoni area. Image|Courtesy “Stealing has since
increased since the curfew started, people are not working they are stealing to
survive and making losses to others. The dusk to dawn curfew has been
unbearable with many depending on open air markets, which have been closed, for
survival,” said Ms. Ayuma Dorcas a resident in Mitume.

With many well wishers in the county only providing soaps, sanitizers
and water, means to find food have been limited.

The Chief Administrative Secretary for health Dr. Mercy Mwangangi
recently cited that there has been an increase of domestic violence during
these coronavirus pandemic,

On Wednesday Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja in an interview
with Citizen TV said that leaders have been asked to channel their donations
through county commissioners and accountability should be observed.

 This comes after the
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i banned direct distribution of food
donations and directed that all donations be made through the county
governments commissioners and COVID-19 boards.

The measure was given after two women died following a
commotion in Kibra resulting from food donation by ODM leader Raila Odinga.