Residents in Limuru, Kenya, have reported a significant increase in nighttime thefts, with criminals targeting water meters, taps, and livestock in several villages. The thefts have caused flooding and water outages in the affected areas. Residents suspect that organized gangs are behind the thefts, motivated by the valuable brass and copper components that can be sold in the illegal scrap metal market.
George Kimani, a resident, woke up to find water spilling from his property after thieves removed his water meter and taps. He believes that the thieves used sedatives to incapacitate his guard dogs and went unnoticed by the residents. Another victim, Cecilia Njeri, reported that her meter was located next to her main door, but nobody heard the thieves breaking it or noticed the water spilling until the following morning.
The thieves have reportedly been targeting neighborhoods at night, ripping meters from supply pipes and causing flooding and water outages. In one incident, about 20 homesteads in Tharuni and Mutarakwa were affected in a single night, while another incident saw about 80 homesteads in Ndiuni targeted. Residents have expressed frustration over the lack of follow-up action by the police, with some calling for increased security measures.
In response to the thefts, some residents have resorted to replacing brass meters and taps with plastic ones to deter thieves. Martin Ngige, chairman of Ngenia-Tiekunu Ndiuni Water Project, advised residents to replace brass meters and taps with plastic alternatives, which have zero resale value in illegal scrap metal recycling yards.
The thefts have also been linked to livestock rustling in the area. Residents of Gitogothi, Tarambana, and Kamandura have raised concerns over an increase in cattle and goat theft. Lucy Wanjiru, a resident of Tarambana, reported that she woke up to find her cow shed empty, with part of the remains of her dairy cows found nearby.
Several residents have reported that thieves were slaughtering cattle and loading the meat into waiting vehicles, allegedly destined for sale in Nairobi and its environs. Some residents have also claimed that their dogs had been poisoned, preventing them from raising an alarm during the theft.
The Limuru community is urging the police to take action to address the insecurity issues. Mr. Njenga Murugami stated that residents had expressed deep frustration over receiving standard Occurrence Book (OB) numbers with little to no follow-up action, and urged the police service in Limuru to rise to the occasion and guarantee the safety and security of the community.
Key points
- Residents in Limuru are replacing brass water meters and taps with plastic ones to deter thieves.
- The thefts have caused flooding and water outages in the affected areas.
- Livestock rustling has also increased in the area, with residents reporting cattle and goat theft.
