Mandera Governor warns of terror cells along Kenya-Somalia border

Mandera Governor Ali Roba has issued an alert over increased movement of Al-Shabaab terror cells along the Kenya-Somalia border.

In an exclusive and extensive interview with the Nation, Mr Roba warned that it was only a matter of time before the terrorists could find their way into other parts of the country if nothing is done to contain them.

Mr Roba said that pastoralists in the border county had reported seeing a large number of suspected Al-Shabaab attackers moving along the border shared by the two countries.

He said the terrorist cells were present along the entire border.

The governor's caution comes hot on the heels of last week’s arrest of two terrorism suspects in possession of bomb-making materials and were said to have been targeting premises in Nairobi.

Key terrorism suspects have in the past found their way into the country through Mandera.

TOOK ISSUE WITH NKAISSERY

During the interview, Mr Roba, who has himself been a target of Al-Shabaab attacks five times, criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, saying the minister had downplayed the security situation in the county by saying the ambush on his convoy last week was the work of bandit.

"If this is the person Kenyans have to trust to ensure their security, then we are doomed," Mr Roba said.

The governor accused Mandera County Commissioner Alex ole Nkoyo of feeding the CS with wrong information about terrorist attacks and demanded his sacking.

"Mr Nkoyo should be sacked for not ensuring security in Mandera and downplaying loss of lives. More than 90 people have been killed in the county since he was posted here last year.

"(Mr) Nkoyo has failed. He deserves to be fired and not transferred to another area to take his failures there," Mr Roba said.

The governor said it was illogical for former Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo and former Interior CS Joseph ole Lenku who sat in Nairobi to quit over insecurity in Mandera yet the national government official who oversees the situation on the ground was left in his position.

Mr Roba said the situation in Mandera was worsening with more attacks that left people dead following the attack on his convoy.

"Whatever name they call the attacks, they are on the rise. It is a shame that the labelling of the attacks as banditry has come from the minister for Interior yet there was jubilation in Somalia after the incident, with Al-Shabaab claiming responsibility on local radio stations," Mr Roba said.

He said it was wrong for the government officials to pretend the raids were not happening by relying on information from a single individual yet the terrorist attacks were a national issue.

"God forbid, from the increased movement of terror cells it’s only a matter of time before they start attacking Kenyans, then the government responds when it is too late," Mr Roba said.

DENIED LAXITY ALLEGATIONS

Mr Nkoyo, who has said the attacks targeting Mr Roba were linked to business rivalry, has denied claims that he is lax and that he relays wrong information to Nairobi.

Mr Roba accused Mr Nkaissery of trying to defend the situation in Mandera that he said was indefensible.

He questioned how the officials would address the insecurity problem if they did not first acknowledge its existence.

The governor, a pilot who was elected on a URP ticket, said President Uhuru Kenyatta had moved to address the insecurity in Mandera when local leaders met him "by giving all support required".

ARMOURED VEHICLES

He said security personnel in Mandera were increased and vehicles, including armoured carriers for the military, were provided.

"However, despite the input by the President the incidents have kept on occurring," he said.

He said it is not easy to defeat terrorism without consistence and proper teamwork on the ground.

He lamented that the national government was losing credibility and ridiculing itself by not acknowledging the problem "yet Kenyans are dying."

"There has been mass killings of Kenyans in the past (few) weeks," Mr Roba said.

He said Kenyans have a right to information on the security situation "but the person in charge is dismissing terror attacks as banditry."