The Uasin Gishu County Security team has established a special police unit tasked to investigate and apprehend a criminal group involved in snatching and pickpocketing phones within the Eldoret town Central Business District (CBD).
There has been a concern that phone-theft incidences have been on the rise, especially around the Eldoret main market.
County Commissioner Stephen Kihara admitted that the matter has been a concern, and revealed that it has already been discussed during a security meeting.

In a bid to address the issue, Kihara said a team has already been put together and deployed in affected areas.
“We have sat down with the security team and created a unit that will be patrolling around the market area so that we ensure as we head to festive season where there will be a surge in population, no locals fall prey to the pickpockets and phone snatchers,” said the County Commissioner.
He said the unit will comprise both uniformed and ununiformed police officers.
Kihara also noted that the security team has agreed to work closely with business community officials in concerted efforts to end the vice.

“There are youths who loiter and sit along River Sosiani, that is an area we are also monitoring as it is known to be honoring criminal elements,” said the County Security boss.
This comes just days after over 100 mobile phones were stolen during the debut Daddy Owen Festival at Huruma grounds.
The security team said the incident is still under investigation, as they continue to trace phones whose owners reported to have been stolen during the event that was packed to capacity.
However, only a few locals have since reported having had their phones stolen.