The newly posted OCPD of Juja Sub-county, Bernard Ngungu, has promised firm action against levels of insecurity that tend to occur in the area.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Uzalendo News, Ngungu noted that cases of assault, night break-ins, livestock and motorcycle theft, land dispute-related murders, and phone and laptop snatching are some of the most common crimes reported across the region.
He emphasized that the crimes have been widespread, cutting across areas like Juja town, Juja Farm, Kimbo, and Theta.
Cases of stock theft have been majorly reported in Juja Farm, where residents have raised concerns over livestock being stolen, especially at night.
Meanwhile, Kimbo and Theta areas have become hotspots for motor vehicle and motorcycle theft, with many victims losing their cars and bikes to well-coordinated syndicates.
Areas where JKUAT students reside have the highest cases of laptop and phone snatching cases. Breaking and burglary, however, is not confined to any specific location—it cuts across the entire sub-county, affecting both residential and commercial areas.
To tackle this rising trend, the OCPD has already taken key steps to reorganize policing within Juja. He has divided the sub-county into smaller sectors, assigning officers to each during night hours to ensure a permanent security presence.
These officers will be held accountable for any criminal activities occurring in their zones. Duty officers will also be actively monitoring the presence and performance of these assigned officers, ensuring a hands-on approach to law enforcement.
The OCPD also revealed that undercover police officers will be deployed throughout the area, many of them using motorcycles to access feeder roads where criminals often escape. He explained that motorcycles would allow the officers to reach interior regions inaccessible to police vehicles. This move, he said, will significantly boost their ability to surprise and apprehend suspects trying to flee using narrow or rural routes.
In collaboration with other police units, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Ngungu emphasized that normal patrols would no longer be enough.
The DCI’s involvement will help the local police unit in gathering intelligence and mounting targeted operations against criminal groups. He highlighted the need for a coordinated team effort, saying the fight against crime can only be successful when all units work together.
Public participation also forms a key part of the OCPD’s new strategy. He is encouraging community members, especially bodaboda riders, to report suspicious activities to the authorities without fear.
He assured the public that any information shared with the police would be treated with confidentiality, and the identities of informants will not be revealed. According to him, failing to report crime only endangers the same residents further.
Ngungu’s crime-fighting approach focuses more on preventing crime rather than merely responding to incidents. He criticized the traditional reactive model of waiting until a crime occurs to act and instead emphasized the importance of maintaining a visible presence on the ground at all times. However, he assured residents that if any incident were to occur in the absence of a patrol officer, every police station is prepared to respond swiftly.
Plans are also underway to conduct community barazas aimed at sensitizing residents on lesser-known criminal tricks. Ngungu shared an example where some car wash attendants make duplicate keys from vehicles left with them and later collaborate with car thieves. He urged residents to take precautions such as always holding on to their keys, even during a car wash.
Despite the progress, the OCPD admitted that the police face significant challenges. These include a shortage of officers at many stations, forcing small teams to cover wide areas. Additionally, there are too few patrol vehicles, and stations are often forced to share the few available ones.
Limited fuel supplies further strain their mobility. Nevertheless, Ngunguremained optimistic, stating that he and his team would work with the little they have as they await government intervention to recruit more officers and provide necessary resources.
Above all, OCPD Bernard Ngungu emphasized that the core mission of the police in Juja is to protect and serve the residents. He assured the public that every police officer in the sub-county is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all.
“We are here for you,” he stated, adding that his team will do their best to make Juja a safe place for everyone to live, work, and thrive.
