Nakuru businessman Njuguna Njoka has called on the County security team to move in with speed and address the nuisance caused by street families around Pinkam House.
Njoka who is the Proprietor of the Estate of P.N Kamau says the street families around Pinkam House have continued to cause insecurity.
According to Njoka, the street families continue to harass businesses as well as those headed to board vehicles at the new matatu stage opposite Municipal Mortuary.
Passengers from town headed to the new matatu stage have also raised complaints about harassment by the street families at Pinkam House.
Led Ndirangu Wang’ere, they said most of the street families who have made Pinkam and around flyover as their dwelling has become a security threat with especially in the evening when they are rushing to beat the curfew time.
They say even women are now afraid of the area around Pinkam House due to the insecurity being occasioned by the street families.
“The security team should act because this issue around Pinkam House is now becoming worse,” said Wang’ere.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Jackson Musiori who says they are now afraid of even being mugged around the area.
He adds that even as the government puts measures in place on the fight against COVID-19, the street families around Pinkam House in Nakuru have continued to remain a threat as they are far from observing the simple guidelines such as social distancing and hand washing.
In a letter dated February 26, 2020, to the Nakuru County Secretary, the Estate of P.N Kamau had raised the matter of the menace being caused by the street families on the verandah at Pinkam House Plot block 10/5 along Mburu Gichua Road, Nakuru.
Njoka, however, says despite the complaints being raised severally, no action has so far been taken by the relevant authorities.
He says if the matter is not addressed soon the area will be insecure for any businesses and tenants as well as customers will walkout leading to shut down of businesses hence a blow to the economy of Nakuru county.
“We have raised complaints severally on the issue but the relevant authorities seem not to listen to us. If this continues then we are afraid it will make the area insecure and risky to our tenants and customers” said Njoka.
However, Nakuru County Commissioner Erastus Mbui through a phone interview was categorical that the business persons should liaise with area OCS and Assistant county commissioner over the same.
He, however, was quick to note that the street families’ issue in Nakuru town needs collective responsibility to reach a permanent action.
“Let the business persons around Pinkam House liaise with the OCS or the area Assistant County Commissioner. If they will not get the assistance they are free to talk to me,” said Mbui.
Pinkam House is a centre of numerous activities with many businesses operating in the building.
The businesses now calling on the county security team led by County Commissioner Erastus Mbui to act and ensure that the street families are taken away from the area to allow business-friendly environment.
The issue of street families within Nakuru town has continued to be a challenge with issues of rehabilitation still a challenge.