House team faults Samburu military deployment

A Parliamentary Committee on Defence on Wednesday faulted the government of deploying Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to Baragoi, Samburu County.

Committee Chairman Adan Keynan said President Kibaki should have instead deployed the Anti-Stock Theft unit, Rapid Response Squad or the General Service Unit officers to deal with the cattle rustlers.

Mr Keynan said the deployment of soldiers in Baragoi could lead to militarisation of the country as various parts of the nation have been hit hard by insecurity. Read (Police declare war on cattle rustlers)

He said regions such as Isiolo, Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa and Mandera require deployment of security officers to fight rising insecurity cases.

He said the military's role was to primarily defend Kenya's borders from external aggression as opposed to fighting internal conflicts.

Mr Keynan also accused the government for failing to deploy the military in hard hit areas during the 2008 post election violence.

“There are several security units which could have been deployed to Baragoi and deal with the bandits who caused the deaths of more than 40 police officers,” he said.

"Deploying the military to Baragoi means our internal security agents are not up to the task. Action should be taken against those sleeping on their job,” he added.

While addressing a press conference at Mombasa Continental Resort, Mr Keynan said the killings of 42 police officers by bandits should be declared a national disaster.

He was accompanied by the parliamentary committee on defence members Kiema Kilonzo, Charles Kilonzo, Martin Ogindo, Yusuf Abdi and George Nyamweya.

“It is shocking that 42 officers could be killed in an incident of cattle rustling. It evidences that there is internal security lapse in the country,” said Keynan.

“If the police could be killed by bandits, it shows Kenyans are no longer safe. The authorities should find ways of containing the wave of insecurity which has engulfed the country,” he added.

Mr Keynan called on the government to deal with cattle rustlers firmly saying the matter had been commercialised.

'Disarmament policy'

He also said there was need for the government to formulate a policy on disarmament to help police recover illegal firearms.

All communities believed to be harbouring illegal firearms, he added, should be disarmed as a matter of urgency to restore security across the country.

Mr Kiema Kilonzo said if the killings of 42 police officers occurred in a developed nation, then, police commissioner Mathew Iteere could have quit his job.

“It is sad that 42 police officers lost their lives and the police commissioner is still in office. Had that happened in the West, the police boss could have bowed out,” he added.

On the other hand, Mr Charles Kilonzo said the death of the officers could have been caused by poor planning and lack of equipments.

He added that there was need for the government to fully equip the police force to enable them contain insecurity in the country.