Residents of Dede in Awendo decry rising insecurity

Awendo Sub-County Residents Decry Relentless Wave of Crime and Violence
A state of fear has gripped residents of Dede location in Awendo Sub-County, Migori, as a surge in violent criminal attacks continues to terrorize the community. Locals report that armed gangs are staging near-nightly raids on homes, stealing livestock, money, and personal belongings, while subjecting victims to brutal assaults. The pervasive insecurity has left families feeling helpless and abandoned, with many now sleeping in shifts or fleeing their homes altogether to seek safety.
According to numerous accounts, the assailants, often armed with pangas, clubs, and in some cases guns, strike with impunity. They target homesteads, overpower residents, and loot properties before melting back into the darkness. We are living in a nightmare. Every night, we pray for dawn. These criminals are ruthless, and they operate without any fear of the police, shared a community elder from Dede, who requested anonymity for his safety. The attacks have not only resulted in significant material losses but have also left deep psychological scars on the community.
The deteriorating situation has prompted desperate pleas for intervention from local leaders and residents. They are calling on the County Security Committee, led by County Commissioner David Gitonga, to immediately deploy more police officers to the area and establish a permanent police post. Furthermore, they are urging for a comprehensive security operation to dismantle the criminal networks believed to be operating from hideouts within the sub-county. Our people are suffering. We need tangible action, not just promises. We need security restored now, demanded a local area representative.
The crisis in Awendo adds another layer to the complex security challenges facing Migori County, which has been repeatedly flagged as a hotspot for violent crime. The persistent violence in rural areas like Dede underscores the critical gap between national security directives and the reality on the ground. As the calls for help grow more urgent, the ability of both county and national security agencies to mount an effective, sustained response will be the true measure of their commitment to protecting the lives and livelihoods of all Kenyans.