Written By Lisa Murimi
Mothers in Lamu County have appealed to security agencies to deploy sniffer dogs in a bid to curb drug trafficking and enhance security in the region.
The women believe the dogs will play a critical role in identifying narcotics and dangerous weapons, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), being smuggled into the county through key hotspots.
Lamu has long grappled with insecurity, particularly due to the threat posed by Al-Shabaab militants from Somalia.
Additionally, the county faces a growing drug problem, with many young people falling into addiction.
Arrests have been made along the Lamu-Witu-Garsen route, where drugs like heroin and cocaine have been hidden in creative ways, often intercepted with the help of sniffer dogs.
Mariam Lali, spokesperson for the Lamu Mothers Movement for Change, emphasized the importance of using sniffer dogs to eradicate drugs and weapons.
“Sniffer dogs can deter both drugs and IEDs, especially in smuggling hotspots such as roads and jetties across Lamu,” she said.
Zainab Ahmed, another concerned mother, called on the community to cooperate with authorities by sharing information to help bring drug traffickers to justice.
Lamu County Commissioner Wesley Koech confirmed that search operations have been intensified to fight the drug menace.
