Diani Tourists town which is the economic hub for Kwale County is facing a challenge of insecurity not only at night but also during the day.
It is now clear that anyone with a master key can get into your shop, open it and walk out carrying all your stuff and go away without being traced.
This is after a robbery case in which photography equipment worth half a million were stolen by a man who was captured on CCTV footage, police are yet to identify the person a week after the incident.
Police are investigating the incident after receiving CCTV footage where the robbery happened in broad daylight at 12:30 noonΒ in Diani’s central business district at a studioΒ which was opened just a month prior to the theft by a group of youth who joined hands in a bid to have an income.
According to CCTV footage that Coast Times is in possession at 12:19pm on 29th January the CCTV captured the suspected thief walking along Beach Road heading towards the building where the studio is located.
At 12:29pm the yet to be identified man is seen proceeding up the stairs to get to the second floor, just minutes after the victims left the building briefly.
He is seen carrying something in his hand.
Five minutes later he comes down the stairs with a bag belonging to one of the victims.
According to the victims, they lost two cameras, three lenses, two laptops, two hard drives and two memory cards.
He is then captured walking along the town with the bag on his back.
The victims say the incident has dented their means of survival after the man took away their tools of trade which gave them a meaningful earning.
βIt is a big challenge to us because we decided to join hands and employ ourselves since employment opportunities are very minimal. We have really been dragged back and we are asking ourselves where we can get half a million to get back on our feetβ added Sigomba.
According to Sigomba, the man had visited the studio a day before the incident and posed as a potential customer.
This, he says, might have been just a ploy to survey the place before striking.
He was also captured by CCTV on that day.
His partner Dennis Kiptoo had just set foot in Diani just three weeks before the incident.
βOnly three weeks into the business and this happens. It is really disappointing; I just feel bad,β he told Coast Times Digital.
Their other partner Rani Khan said they used all their savings to set up the business.
The victims have reported the matter to Diani Police stationΒ underΒ OB number 31/29/01/2023Β as residents and other business people live in fear of the new wave of crime.
As a parent I am so devastated and I know other parents feel the same, if anyone identifies the man after watching the footage, please volunteer the informationβ said Farin Ibrahim.
Apart from such breaking in the area has been affected by Panga wielding minors who have terrorised business in the area by stealing.
Richard Onsongo, one of the business owners in the area, asked police to play their part in providing security day and night while asking parents to take care of their children.
Onsongo blamed police for allegedly being concerned about visiting bars and restaurants instead of protecting locals.
Petronila Ingasia, one of the vegetable vendors in Diani said that the situation is worsening every day while calling for police to conduct patrol day and night to protect them.
βThe panga-wielding children are dangerous and if they are not handled they will destabilize this area’s economy,β she said.
James Nyakiti, another businessman in Diani said time has come for police to protect citizens and business without failure.
Msambweni deputy police commander George Oswago said that they have already met with leaders in the area for a solution on juvenile gangs.
He said that the issue is not that bad since police are patrolling the town and its environs for ensuring citizens security.
