Gem Member of Parliament Elisha Odhiambo has called on the Inspector General of Police to urgently deploy a special investigative unit to probe a disturbing wave of unresolved murders in the constituency, particularly targeting women and school-aged girls.
Speaking during a community gathering in Mutumbu, Gem Yala Sub-county, the legislator voiced deep concern over the growing insecurity, warning that fear has gripped the region as police appear overstretched and unable to contain the situation.
“It is deeply worrying that more innocent girls and members of the public continue to fall victim to what appears to be either a serial killer or an organized gang. Meanwhile, the police seem helpless,” said Odhiambo.
His remarks come in the wake of the brutal killings of Veronica Odongo, a widow, and Elizabeth Achieng, a Form Two student from East Gem, who were found dead just three days ago. Their deaths follow the murders of two other schoolgirls in Mindhine and Muhanda areas two months earlier.
“We cannot continue this way,” Odhiambo said. “I am appealing to all of us to volunteer information that can help protect our people.”
The MP is now pushing for the immediate deployment of the Special Crimes Prevention Unit to the areas of Sagam, Sinaga, and East Gem, which he described as having become hotspots for criminal activity.
Odhiambo disclosed that he had already held discussions with senior security officials in Siaya County and agreed on the need to involve elite units from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to supplement local policing efforts.
“We cannot be in a constituency where people are slaughtered like chicken not under my watch. The perpetrators’ days are numbered,” he warned. “This week, something must happen.”
He urged residents to report any suspicious behavior to the police or local administrators and went a step further, adding: “If you can’t give the information to them, bring it to me and I will deal with it.”
In addition to investigative support, the MP appealed to the national government to deploy more police officers to Gem, noting that many officers who were transferred from the region have yet to be replaced.
Odhiambo also took issue with the local police force, accusing them of prioritizing crackdowns on illicit brews over addressing life-threatening crimes.
“They must concentrate on their core mandate protecting lives. The obsession with illicit liquor raids is making them forget their responsibility to keep our people safe,” he said.
The killings have sent shockwaves through the local community, with residents demanding immediate action from both local authorities and the national government.
Written By Ian Maleve
