North-eastern leaders ask govt to deal decisively with criminals

Leaders from north-eastern Kenya have urged the government to deal decisively with all types of criminals to ensure that the sanctity of the lives of Kenyans is respected.

The leaders, who called the Saturday bus attack in Mandera a form of aggression against the sovereignty of the country, said the intention of the attackers is to create religious disharmony between peace-loving Kenyans who have co-existed in tranquillity for many years.

At least 28 people were killed on Saturday morning after suspected Al-Shabaab militants ambushed a Nairobi-bound bus.

The Islamist group, based in the neighbouring war-torn Somalia, claimed responsibility for the attack.

LEADERS CONDEMN ATTACK

Led by Sheikh Abdullahi Sirat, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) vice chairman for the north-eastern region, leaders from the business community, peace builders and opinion leaders called on the government to deal firmly with all criminal groups.

"Muslim leaders, under the umbrella (of) Supkem, its affiliates and all the residents of (the) north-eastern region condemn the heinous act of murder against innocent people who dedicated their lives to serving the people of the region selflessly," said Mr Sirat at a press conference in Garissa Town.

He said that Islam totally prohibits any form of harm, leave alone the killing of fellow human beings, noting that the blood of another human being is sacred.

The national vice chairman of the Kenya Livestock Market Council (KLMC), Mr Dubat Amey, said by sorting out Muslims and brutally killing non-Muslims the militants are clearly hell-bent to create religious conflict in the country.

ON A DANGEROUS MISSION

"These people (Al-Shabab) are on a dangerous mission to set Kenya into flames the way they did to their own country by selectively targeting people perceived to be non-Muslim in their attacks," he said.

Mr Amey said Kenyans needed to be careful not to fall into this dangerous trap, which he said had been used by some criminals in other parts of the world to achieve their agenda.

The leaders called upon the three governors of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera to pull resources together and pay for the funeral expenses of the victims of the Saturday attack, noting that they must work with the national government to make sure the criminals are eliminated.

'ELIMINATE CRIMINALS'

Iman Sigat, the chairperson of the Fafi District Peace Committee, urged the government to take full charge of the security of its people and eliminate criminals, including Al-Shabaab, who were giving Kenyans sleepless nights and taking innocent lives through their barbaric and indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

"We urge the President to take charge of the security of the country and deal decisively with criminals who are assaulting the country's sovereignty. The time of talking is now over and we want to see the recurrent attacks on civilians and civil servants stopped immediately,” he said.