Nairobi — During the last one week or so, the Public Watchdog, like most Kenyans, was shocked by the increase in insecurity and merciless killings in Nairobi, Kuresoi and Molo.

Several lives have been lost in the senseless killing and retaliation in the hands of criminals. It is apparent that certain areas of Nairobi are fast becoming captive to competing gangsters. The reports that have emerged so far indicate that the terror groups seek protection money from the already very poor members of the society living in the slums.

It is needless to say that due to widespread poverty and unemployment, people living in the affected areas in the city or its environs cannot afford decent housing, transport and food for their families. It would be expecting too much to impose additional levies on poor people as the criminal gangs have been doing.

The security forces have also been criticised for their slow response in bringing the violence to an end without the senseless loss of lives. When they respond, they have been accused of using excessive force in certain situations.

Politicians have also been accused of seeking to capitalise on insecurity for political gains. The Government machinery in certain situations has largely appeared uncoordinated and slow in responding. The Public Watchdog wishes to raise the following fundamental issues:

Firstly, it is pertinent to state that when the public is put in a state of hopelessness due to insecurity, they are compelled to defend themselves and their interests. It is, however, inevitable that such circumstances inherently lead to violence and more violence.

It is also a natural instinct for human beings in desperation to resort to a defensive mode as a means of protecting themselves and their families. This has been demonstrated in the areas where violence seems to have bred more violence though ignited by what appears to have been isolated incidents.

The criminal elements in society take advantage of any opportunity to unleash mayhem on their neighbours and perceived enemies. It is, therefore, critical that any criminal acts, including isolated ones, be dealt with rapidly and 'ring-fenced' so that they do not fuel community animosity, more violence, retaliation and counter-retaliation. This was witnessed in Molo, Kuresoi and last week in Mathare.

Secondly, the Government must address the root cause of communal violence and insecurity in the country. This has been attributed largely to unemployment, poverty and political incitement by competing and vested interests.

To address unemployment, it is critical that the youth be engaged in gainful productive activities. In this regard, the initiative to allocate direct resources - Sh1 billion - to support the creation of an entrepreneurship revolving fund for the youth is a positive step.

It is important, however, to allocate more resources to such a fund and establish appropriate structures to ensure they reach the targeted groups at the grassroots across the country.

Disbursement of the funds must not only be transparent, but also fair and equitable. The management of the funds must precede such disbursement with appropriate skills training to the eligible groups to ensure that an entrepreneurship culture in our society grows, is nurtured and succeeds.

Thirdly, politicians on all sides of the political divide must not seek political capital out of violence as such action can only serve to undermine national interest and nationhood. The political elite in Government and the Opposition must seek - in all their actions and utterances - to inculcate the spirit of nationhood and national character.

They must tell their supporters to remain calm and maintain peace amid provocative actions by competing groups. Any criminal acts by any party regardless of political affiliation or community must be seen as such and reported to the appropriate authorities for action. Politicians must not endear themselves to their supporters by making utterances that may appear populist, but which could incite or ignite hatred among communities.

Fourthly, Kenyans must isolate criminal incidents and put pressure to bear on appropriate organs of Government. We must not unleash unwarranted anger on our neighbours and communities in a generalised guilty verdict. Kenyans have a responsibility to identify, isolate and compel the Government to take decisive action against criminals in the spirit of community policing.

We must not harbour criminals in our midst or allow them to rein in our neighbours under our watch. The people have an obvious responsibility that supersedes any sophisticated intelligence network as the latter invariably relies on the society for information.

But what appears in the print and electronic media is appalling - pictures of Kenyans arming themselves with weapons and hunting one another during the day and night to kill fellow human beings. This heartless action further demonstrates what a merciless people some of us have become. As a people and a society, we must take the ultimate responsibility to reverse the course in building a society that cares for one another.

Finally, the Government must take decisive action by being pro-active in eliminating insecurity, which threatens to undermine national stability. It is important, therefore, to ensure that a motivated and equipped workforce is in charge of the national security machinery. The continued improvement of terms of service of the security forces must be sustained as a strategic national investment.

The intelligence network must also come to the aid of regular forces to identify and isolate kingpins of crime for appropriate action. To improve success in the prosecution of criminals, the delayed investment in a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory should be accelerated. Of course, this has been slowed down by reported incidences of corrupt rent seekers. It is needless to state that the more the project is delayed the more our people suffer in the hands of criminals who are freed for lack of weak evidence adduced in the prosecution process.

The qualms of conscience in some of our leaders have become so blunt that they exhibit total disregard for the due process of the law in their pronouncements and act with impunity.

In conclusion, the Judiciary must come to the people's aid and impose long-term custodial sentences on convicted criminals as a deterrent measure to safeguard public interest. We further need to once again - as a Government and a people - to nurture and uphold moral values in creating a system that ensures the norms are woven firmly in our national character. This is a matter of great public interests!