CRIME IN BUNGOMA AND ACTION BY LEADERS

LUKE KAPCHANGA

CONCERN.

The Bungoma county leaders meeting at Mabanga on 5/7/2013 on security situation, poved one thing in common that the government is doing its business basing on 1970 tactics.

County commissioner Maalim Mohammed who was the key speaker had very poorly hand written notes from which he took the participants through.

The monologue meeting saw the Commissioner saying about 14 suspected criminals linked to the recent Bungoma killings, having been arrested and appeared in court.

He claimed that the gangsters were operating as a racket , and appealed to members of the public not to turn to mob justice.

He added something to the effect that police found colluding with criminals to be punished and also police to respond promptly when alarm is raised.

As a human rights defender , the Killings in Bungoma in April was a violation of both the International Human rights law and International Humanitarian Law.

Hence the State is held accountable to the well being of the affected families and victims nursing injuries.

So the intent and purpose of such a meeting should have first and foremost, included the victims of the widespread systematic attack.

This people should have highlighted the effectiveness of policing in the county since they came under attack, and any assistance availed them by the government.

Unfortunately, the organizer preferred to bring agendas when the meeting was in progress , the agenda had no time frame for each item to last.

This was worse than, a village CBO, organizing a meeting for teenage mothers or a village elders baraza.

Kindly, the commissioner should be told that the meeting need to have been about investigations, leading to reconstruction and interpreting the criminal behavior and patterns found at crime scene.

The material evidence recovered from crime scene, how it was going to help leaders in mapping out a strategy in combating it.

The chain of custody, detaining what was recovered, how suspected criminals were arested and evidence against them as they appear in court.

The state remains held responsible for the killings committed by non-state actors, if it fails to act with due diligence to prevent , deter and punish perpetrators of the crimes, under the International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law.

Otherwise there is nothing frustrating as sitting through a meeting where people talk the whole time yet nothing is done.

Let the County Commisioner next time, tell the people of Bungoma since April how many people have been killed in a similar manner, those in hospital and those killed through mob justice.

A meeting which allows no room to listen, understand ans share ideas has difficult to make people be positive about its impact.

And the agenda without measurable action plans is not worthy taking place at this time of age.

So I hope those present may have enjoyed, being present and getting paid for sitting through, without informed participation.