This archive report was first published on 22 May 2020.
On May 22, 2020, Rarieda Sub County Police Commander Thomas Ototo addressed the press in his office, highlighting the need for schools and public institutions in Siaya to employ security guards from reputable security firms to curb the rising cases of burglary.
According to Ototo, guards from reputable firms are trained and can easily be traced and held accountable in case of burglary incidents. He warned schools against employing guards sourced from the village, citing instances where property of unknown value was stolen, and the guard went into hiding.
“Some of these watchmen or guards are relatives of Boards of Management members in their schools and once there crime occurs, they disappear and their influential kin do not want them followed up,” Ototo revealed.
He disclosed that in case of burglary in such institutions, the incidents go unreported because the head teachers or the principals are under pressure from the villagers not to report the matter to the police, fearing it may lead to arrest of the guards.
“Right now we have had few cases of burglary in schools in the region and we have made arrests and prosecuted the guards for failing to prevent felony, but in most cases the incidents are not reported by the school heads since they do not want to antagonise the villagers,” Ototo said.
The police boss advised the school heads to always report cases immediately they occur to allow police to commence investigations instead of choosing to protect the offenders by remaining silent.
