Daily Nation newspaper

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

By WACHIRA MWANGI/ MOHAMED AHMED

Mombasa County Government will deploy askaris to patrol Old Town area following a surge in crime.Mvita MP, Abdulswamad Nassir said the county has agreed to deploy at least 100 guards to Old Town where a gang that dresses in buibuis has been terrorising residents.“Those askaris will not deal with hawkers or any other issue, they will specifically deal with manning the Old Town area,” he said.He said the gang has tainted the image of Old Town that is a tourists attraction site.The MP at the same time urged police not to relent on their crackdown on the gang after 22 suspects were arrested Thursday evening.

Mr Nassir lamented that suspects are usually arrested but freed on bond by courts and return to the area where they continue to terrorise residents.“I have written to the County Commissioner, Nelson Marwa to give us the list of those arrested and released on bond.“The price of democracy that everyone has a constitutional right (to bond) has made us to suffer because the youth are misusing those rights. Justice does not exist in vacuum, as a magistrate, one has to think of repercussions once you release the suspects,” he said.He said he had mobilised youth into groups to help identify members of the gang.He said the groups are already assisting security personnel in tracing the gang.Police on Thursday night arrested 22 suspects in Old Town in a crackdown on a gang that has been terrorising residents.