'Filled with cobwebs': Muragara residents decry insecurity as police post lies dormant for 8 years

The residents, led by Geoffrey Miano, say the local police post has remained unused since 2018 despite having the facilities required for police operations.

Miano said the post was constructed in 2009 through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), with additional contributions from local residents.

He said the facility has since been abandoned and is now covered in cobwebs.

Residents allege that police officers were withdrawn from the post in 2018 following the merger of the Kenya Police and Administration Police.

They said the police post was established after the outlawed Mungiki sect invaded the area, which borders Mathira Constituency.

According to resident Peter Migwi, people living in Muragara, Gatwe, Kagumo, Kabonge and Kiaruhiu have to travel more than seven kilometres to access police services.

Migwi said residents in the tea-growing areas continue to live in fear due to reported cases of crime.

“Cases of churches being broken into have increased rapidly. Thugs have broken into ACK, PCEA, Full Gospel, Seventh Day Adventist and other churches, while livestock theft has also increased,” Miano said.

At ACK Muragara, thieves reportedly consumed Holy Communion and drank communion wine during a break-in.

The residents are now calling on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, the Kirinyaga County security team and Ndia MP George Kariuki to intervene and address the security concerns.

They also want authorities to explain what happened to the officers who were previously deployed to the police post.