The Kenyan police unit has blamed idleness for a wave of crime that has hit the capital Nairobi, causing alarm among residents.
Police spokesperson Charles Owino on Tuesday also blamed the prolonged political stalemate the country experienced, saying its end now meant youth that were engaged in political campaign activities were now idle.
“We have to get to know the cause of these muggings. We have experienced the longest political period in the country and now it is over. These youth had been kept busy by politicians who were paying them to run their campaigns but now after either winning or losing they have left the youth with nothing,” local Star newspaper quotes Owino.
He also pointed out to a rise in the number of street children, saying the police would work with relevant authorities to identify and relocate them elsewhere for rehabilitation.
“We have asked the county government to collaborate with the police and identify genuine street children from the imposters. Those genuine should be settled somewhere for rehabilitation as we look for better ways to deal with the imposters,” Owino said.
Since the turn of the year, Nairobi residents have complained – especially on social media – of the rising number of cases of mugging, most of which are done in broad daylight.
Some victims shared their ordeals online, explaining how they were robbed of their belongings or a how a mugger snatched money from them just after leaving an ATM. One Twitter user even shared her experience of having her wig snatched from her head.
Nairobi governor Mike Mbivi on Monday asked residents of the city to avoid carrying valuable items that attracted the muggers.
Owino said the police would deploy more officers to curb the muggings.
