Garsen town in Tana delta sub-county is located about 100km from Malindi off the Garrisa- Malindi highway. It is also located about 8km off the Minjila Lamu highway and serves as a major stop over for vehicles and passengers making their way to Holla, Garissa and Lamu areas.

The town boosts of a wide range of social amenities within its periphery and being a hub for business activities within the Tana Delta. Its strategic position has seen its rapid growth over the years from a small town to a central business area that serves a wide variety of areas that include Tarasaa, Kipini, Witu and Gamba.

Its strategic position has also however predisposed it to numerous security concerns. Bordering the Boni forest, Garsen has had its fair share of terror related activities in recent times with perhaps the most noteable being attacks that were being carried out by the Al Shabaab group on convoys of public transport vehicles.

Being a hub for business, the two has been exposed to the unscrupulous trade of drugs owing to individuals willing to make any easy buck off the business. Many youths are now getting into drug abuse with incidences of theft increasing to provide funds for the drugs supply. “There have been many reports of petty crimes in Garsen that involve youths who are abusing drugs. Many people have now had to adjust their lifestyles paying close attention to their properties something that never used to happen in Garsen”, lamented the peace committee chairman for the area in one meeting with law enforcers.

Youth in the area have now become vulnerable to other vices such as recruitment into violent extremist groups raising alarm over what can be done to address this concern.

KECOSCE, through the SCORE program is implementing the Tushauriane Tana delta project with support from USAID. The project has supported the empowerment of youth, creating awareness on the negative effects of radicalization and joining violence extremists’ organization. The project also brought together the youth and police into dialogue with the aim of strengthening relationships hence ensuring the two work as partners to address and preventing violent extremism.

Meet Cheyech Peter a lady in her mid twenties. The vibrant youth leader is a beneficiary of the work within the SCORE project especially in building community police relations. She recounts that she has managed to create a good relationship with the police and the Officer Commanding Station, Garsen sharing vital information with the officer that has seen the arrest of drug peddlers and illicit brewers. This has helped drastically reduce the number of vulnerable youth being getting into crime to meet their drug demands.

Over a month ago, two suppliers have been caught and arraigned in court due to her effort to secure the village. Information she gave to the police resulted to regular police patrols which has consequently led to arrest users and owners of illicit brew in her village. “It is through this effort that numbers of theft cases have reduced and in this village. Although there is still much to be done, and also this kind of work has a lot of risk involved. That notwithstanding, I am glad that I have the support of the officers and all in all, am happy to that these petty crimes have reduced.” Says Ms. Cheyech.