KENYA COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.the-star.co.ke/local/western--nyanza/75049-thugs-break-into-government-offices-steal-computers-motorbike

Thugs break into Kakamega offices, steal computers

WEDNESDAY, 09 MAY 2012 23:49 BY HILTON OTENYO

 OPERATIONS at nine government departments in Kakamega Central district were yesterday paralysed after unknown people broke into the offices and stole computers containing vital information.

The offices of District Civil Registrar, District Registrar of Persons, Public Health, District Population, District Youth, District Development and the National Environmental Management Authority were broken into on Tuesday night.

A motorbike used for field operations by the public health was stolen by the thugs who cut padlocks on the doors and used master keys to open locks on the office doors.

Staff were shocked when they arrived at their work stations only to find the doors without padlocks. All government offices and other installations are normally guarded by administration police officers. About eight officers were said to have been on duty on Tuesday night when the theft occurred.

Residents who had arrived at the district registrar of births and deaths and registrar of persons to either collect or apply for th essential documents milled around the offices. None of the officers on duty at the DC's office where the affected offices are located had by yesterday been arrested for questioning.

Kakamega Central DC Joseph Ngeny' said police are following useful leads on the incident and confirmed that one person has been arrested. Deputy Kakamega CID boss Maurice Amwayi said the exact number of stolen items is yet to be established.

The thieves targeted computer CPUs and monitors but left behind keyboards. “We are completely grounded by the theft which seems to have targeted information,” Western director of environment Willice Were said.

He said he thought he was alone but was surprised when he went to report the matter to police and met other departmental heads who had come to report similar incidents. Acting district civil registrar Maurice Anzunzu said the thugs may have been targeting the day's cash collection.