Exploring Concept of Community Policing

In Kisii

Presented by: Rapudo Hawi

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

at USIU

Introduction

• Sanchez-Jankowski (1991) notes Gangs as "formal-rational" organizations with rules, roles, and goals, and function as purposive social organizations.

• Shrouded in secrecy, sungusungu, known to recruit exclusively from the local Gusii community started in Bonchari constituency in Kisii Central in the 1990s

Police and Community Policing riding together

to quell Pro-box Toyota Car Strike at Kisii Bus

Park on March /28/2012

Philosophy

•Threats of Violence and Crime in Kisii played a role in the origin, growth, daily activities, and belief systems of now called “CP”

•It was part of the community "myth" to create protection as well as unity.

Case Handled By CP Kisii

1. Civil Case on refusing to Make Cement Blocks OB 55/30/4/2013

2. Agreement to Repay Stolen Money – OB/61/8/5/2013

3. Damaged Mkokoteni

4. Repayment of debts for Motor Bike

Usalama Kisii Safety Audit 2011

• 84% Know of vigilantes existence

• 82% joined gangs for finances

• 52% paid for protective services

• 50% exposed to violence

• 55% agree that the groups work with

the chief

• 32% high likelihood of victimization

•Victims dissatisfied with Policing

Services as they took too long

Dialogue with Community Policing Members and Village

Elders at Kisii Nyanchwa Chief on the May /2/ 2013

Other Facts ……….

“Sungusungu” is most prominent

Reasons why youth join gangs; to get finances easily,

Outstanding communal factors leading young people to join gangs were: Unemployment and alcohol & drug abuse

Relationship between youths and crime: Both are perpetrators and victims of crime and violence

Access to drugs and substances easy

Youth aged 18-24 years and 25-35 years

responsible for drug abuse

Youth aged 25-35 years & Adult aged 36-50

years responsible for drugs trafficking

Main factors driving youths to drug abuse: peer

pressure, availability of substances, self

experimentation, low sense of personality &

family habit to abuse drugs

Reengineering Our Thinking

OLD

The State v. the Offender

Offender breaking the criminal code

Solution:

Punishment and Deterrence

Change offenders’ disposition to commit crime

Victim Offender

Situation

NEW

Solution:

Intervene in the situation/ risk factors that produces crime

Usalama Proposals Beyond 2014

1) Awareness on the formal justice and security system and process- Public education and Training for CP

2) Engage local community and victims of crime with formal justice and security actors- Tracking and reporting on impact of CP

3) Transformation of the local informal justice and security initiatives to be less violent and be more fair and just – Code of Conduct for CP

Thank You & For

enquiries

Tel: 0720975498

Email: rapudo.hawi@usalamaforum.org

www.usalamaforum.org