Mandera Governor Ali Roba calls for security overhaul

The scene where 28 people were killed by Al-Shabaab gunmen in Mandera on November 22, 2014. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO |

What you need to know:

  • Mr Roba also criticised security personnel, accusing them of failing to take attacks seriously.
  • The governor accused the police of viewing insecurity in the county as normal.

Mandera Governor Ali Roba has called for a total overhaul of security in the county following a wave of attacks by Al-Shabaab militants.

Mr Roba also criticised security personnel, accusing them of failing to take attacks seriously.

“The government should reshuffle the entire security team and officers on the ground,” Mr Roba said in a telephone interview with the Nation on Sunday.

The governor alleged that terror suspects arrested in the county had been released.

“Many suspects who are apprehended are released from cells under unknown circumstances, even when there is evidence of their involvement in crime,” Mr Roba said adding that he suspected some officers had been compromised.

Mr Roba accused the police of viewing insecurity in the county as normal.

“No follow-up is done on explosions that occur in the county. It is better for police to act on all information on terror than not to take any action.

“The war on terror can only be won through shared information. Police should value local intelligence so that when pastoralists tell them for instance that eight people have been sighted somewhere, they take it seriously,” Mr Roba said.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT 'LOCKED OUT'

Mr Roba also criticised the Mandera County Commissioner, claiming the county government had been sidelined on security matters.

“The commissioner insists security is a national government function and has totally locked out the county government… Since his arrival he has never held a meeting with the county government on security. As governor, I have not received a security briefing,” Mr Roba said.

Unlike his predecessor who used to hold weekly meetings with the county government and local elders, Mr Roba claimed the commissioner has not held any meetings with the devolved unit's security team.

However, the county government shares all information it gets through the director of security enforcement with the county commander on a weekly basis.

“What we have is one way communication. There’s total disconnect. There’s no forum for county and national government to share information… Currently, there’s no collaboration between county and national government on security at county level,” Mr Roba said.

He noted that public trust in the police was dwindling.

“We need to get an environment where the public can share information in a simple manner,” Mr Roba said.

Mr Roba condemned the killing of 28 Kenyans by Al-Shabaab militants in Mandera on Saturday and promised that the county government would provide funds through the Kenya Red Cross to assist in the burial of the victims.