Life in crime is a waste of good life, Sonko advises juvenile criminals in Nairobi
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Thursday made a passionate appeal tojuvenile criminal gang members in the county to stop their ways orrisk painful death.
Sonko said he is ready to help them transform their lives and becomeuseful members of the society.
Speaking at Dandora where he spoke to the youth in an impromptu visit,Sonko, who mingled with the youth freely, said he relates with thembecause he was once in their shoes.
“I was in that life but left. If I can leave that life of conmanship,theft, and I am here as Governor, even you can transform your life,”the Governor said.
He said it is his former life that makes him have a soft spot foryouth you waste their life in crime having seen and lived through thedamaging effect of life in crime.
Sonko has helped reform over 50 gang members who are now in engaged invarious county projects.
The reformed gang members are majorly in the Ng’arisha JijiInitiative, Nairobi River Clean-Up, SRT, among other projects thatearn them income.
At least 20 more youth from all the 17 sub-counties in Nairobi will beroped into the county projects.
“We are doing this so we can eradicate crime. We cannot be happyhaving Hessy wa Dandora and Kayole killing youth because of crime,”said Sonko.
Sonko said the people the juvenile gang members rob, maim and kill arehis people because they also voted for him and he must protect them.
“To the criminals, we know you. I and the Uhuru administration ismonitoring you. If you have been given a job by the government and youare still engaging in crime, the only solution is the grave,” saidSonko.
“I will help you transform your lives, educate your children and feedyour wives but on one condition – crime must end in Nairobi,” he said.
He asked the youth to visit him in his office whenever they haveproblems so he can have a candid discussion with them on how to maketheir lives useful.
Sonko gave an example of Halili Waweru Mswadik alias Dube, who he saidis a perfect evidence of how one can transform their life.
The Majengo-born Dube was once a wanted criminal operating from ShauriMoyo, who terrorized Nairobi residents.
However, in 2017 after listening to one of Sonko’s speeches in one ofthe rallies in Nairobi, was moved to a point he decided to transformhis life.
He got a chance to interact with Sonko who put in a good word andadvised him to try joining the police force which he successfully did.
“I was in this life and I lost many of my friend to mob justice andthe police bullets. I was in constant fear because I felt death wasalways around me wherever I went,” said Dube.
He advised youth wasting their lives in crime to seek redemption.
“It is possible. I did it. Sonko did it. You can do it,” said Dube.
He was recently posted in Isiolo but Sonko said he is trying to engagewith the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to see if hecan be posted in Nairobi so he can mentor youth to stop crime.
