Multi-agency approach helped fight Al-Shabaab in NE Kenya, police boss says

A multi-agency approach, acting on crucial leads and cooperation between the police and members of the public, are amongst measures used to secure north-eastern Kenya, a senior police officer has said.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Nation in his office in Garissa, Senior Assistant Inspector-General of Police Omar Abdi Shurie said the multi-agency approach contributed in suppressing attacks from the militant Al-Shabaab group.

Different departments of National Police Service and working as a team ensured the success, he added.

He, however, said Al-Shabab elements may not have been completely removed from the region but added that security agents had increased their alertness to prevent loss of lives and protect of property.

In April 2015, Al-Shabab attackers stormed the Garissa University College killing 147 people, most of them students of the institution.

A year after that deadly attack, the region has experienced peace, with authorities remaining vigilant in order to prevent any attacks.

GOOD RELATIONSHIP

“We made sure there is good relationship and cooperation between members of the public and the police because the public provide the much needed intelligence to the police which has already yielded fruit because it resulted to the arrest of key suspects and seizing of illegal weapons,” said Mr Shurie who was posted to the region in May 2015.

The police boss, who is also in charge of the Administration Police Training College (APTC) in Embakasi, said he also embarked on sensitizing the local community on the importance of working with the police for their security and that of their property.

“This job need skills, passion, devotion and commitment to protect lives as entrusted [to us] by the government. So far I can say we have secured North-eastern although not completely as these enemies may be amongst us but we have increased our alertness,” he said.

RESCUED TEACHER

Mr Shurie led police officers who took part rescuing of a Windle Trust teacher, Judy Mutua, who had kidnapped by suspected Al-Shabaab militia in Hagadera in the sprawling Dadaab refugee camp in October 2015.

Ms Mutua was rescued in an operation by the Kenya Defence Forces, the Rapid Deployment Unit of the Administration Police and the Somalia National Army. Another abductor was arrested.

He also led police officers in driving out Al-Shabaab from Yumbis when the militants invaded a village and preached locals and subsequently burnt down abandoned police houses before putting up their flag.