Kisumu County government has ordered the temporary closure of all Airbnbs in Kisumu city following a wave of insecurity which has gripped the area.   

All the short-term rental operators will now register their premises afresh before being issued with new licenses to operate.            

Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga said as a requirement for the fresh registration, the premises must be located in a secure neighbourhood, have a visitors’ registration desk, security guards and Close Circuit Television cameras.            

He said this targets to monitor operations of the establishments which are believed to accommodate criminals who are terrorising Kisumu residents. 

Wanga said all hotels, bars, restaurants and business premises, have been directed to install CCTV cameras with a range of 50-100 metres to aid in surveillance as the crackdown on runaway crime in the area gains momentum.            

He said the city inspectorate has established a command centre where all the CCTV cameras would be monitored for effective response.            

Speaking during a joint security meeting between the County Security Committee and the County government, Wanga said boda boda operations in Milimani estate have been banned.            

This follows a spate of muggings and attacks which reportedly happen as early as 6.00pm targeting people returning home from work.            

He said a boda boda registration has been planned next month to ensure all operators in the city are mapped and zoned for effective monitoring and to tame criminal activities involving the two-wheelers.            

Kisumu County Commissioner (CC) Benson Leparmorijo said the crackdown on criminal gangs in the area will continue until all the suspects are nabbed and brought to book.     

He said six robberies with violence suspects have been arrested, while another was shot and is hospitalised adding that security officers have identified some of the suspects behind cases of mugging and will soon round them up.            

"We are going after them one by one. They can run away but they cannot fly. We shall catch up with them," he said.            

He pointed out Nyamasaria, Mowlem, Riat, Mamboleo, Tom Mboya, Milimani and Kisian as some of the areas worst hit by the insecurity wave, saying adequate security officers have been deployed to restore normalcy.            

The CC said the ongoing joint operation will be conducted fairly and professionally asking area residents not to panic but to volunteer information to the police to make the drive a success.             

"The operation is intelligence-led and our officers are very professional. I ask members of the public to give information that is accurate and where possible to pin the location so that we can respond swiftly," he said.