Residents of Kisumu City can expect to see a significant increase in surveillance as the city embarks on an ambitious project to install 2,500 CCTV cameras.
This initiative, driven by a desire to curb rising crime rates and improve traffic management, aims to make the lakeside city safer and more efficient.
Currently, Kisumu, despite being the third-largest city in Kenya, lacks a comprehensive CCTV network, relying heavily on cameras installed by private businesses.
City manager Abala Wanga highlighted the limitations of this approach, stating, "This was not effective in monitoring activities in the city whose population has grown tenfold."
The new cameras, strategically positioned throughout the city, estates, and even rural areas, will be equipped with night vision and linked to a central control room.
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This will enable authorities to track individuals suspected of criminal activity throughout their movements, creating a comprehensive surveillance network.
"We want when somebody has committed a crime on a street in the CBD for example, he is monitored to his final destination," Wanga explained.
This comprehensive monitoring extends to vehicles as well, with plans to track public transportation, boda bodas, and tuk tuks to enhance overall city safety.
Furthermore, the project aims to tackle the issue of crime associated with boda boda operators.
Wanga emphasized, "Anywhere there is a crime or robbery incident you will always find a boda boda person there."
To address this, all boda boda operators will be registered and their motorcycles equipped with GPS tracking devices.
This, combined with the CCTV network, will provide a robust system for monitoring their movements and deterring criminal activity.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to improve urban resilience and transportation within the city.
As part of this plan, the city management has issued new directives for public transportation aimed at reducing congestion and streamlining traffic flow.
This includes rerouting buses, designating specific drop-off points, and outlawing illegal bus parks.
"I'm asking all the bus operators to comply with this directive, failure to which their vehicles shall be clumped starting tomorrow," Wanga stated firmly.
The implementation of this multifaceted project, incorporating advanced technology and stricter regulations, signals a significant step towards a safer and more efficient future for Kisumu City.
