Mombasa, Kenya: Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged the people to inform the authorities about suspected drug barons so that they can be arrested to reduce crime and increase the glory of the city.
He asked them to make public arrests with the support of local leaders.
He said the locals can help the police by handing over the names as the drug peddlers are their neighbors and live with them here. They don’t come from Gatundu.
Uhuru also asked the police not to arrest the addicts, but it is important to take them for rehabilitation. The ongoing crackdown against drug should target the barons, dealers, peddlers and traffickers, and not the drug addicts because they are sick and need to be taken to hospital. He was speaking on the occasion of launching National Youth Service (NYS) outside Fort Jesus Museum in Old Town.
In his speed the president warned the police too if they fail to arrest suspected drug barons.
However, the Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said drug abuse is a crime and hence the addicts are to be arrested. They should not be spared during crackdown.
Suspects have been seen getting released even after being arrested with drugs. In this regard the governor blamed judiciary too.
Cabinet Secretary Anne Walguru and Najib Balala Joho accompanied the president along with MPs Gideon Mungaro, Abdulswamad Nassir, Moses Kuria, Mishi Mboko, Dan Kazungu, Rashid Bezimba and Zeinab Chidzuga.
They said war against the drugs cannot be won without the involvement of local people. Police was urged to work with closely with the people.
