North Eastern leaders threaten to take arms over attacks
The remains of a vehicle hit by a home-made bomb in Mandera County on May 24, 2017. Five people died in the attack. Leaders from the northeastern region have urged the government to end the attacks or they will arm themselves. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO
What you need to know:
- Woman Representative Shukran Gure said the government should only deploy quality armoured vehicles.
- Al-Shabaab militia have used improvised explosive devices to target motorists, including police vehicles.
Leaders from the northeastern region have issued a two-month ultimatum to the government to end escalating terror attacks from Al-Shabaab or they will acquire guns to protect themselves.
Fafi MP Barre Shill warned the Jubilee government that communities will seek ways to protect themselves if the attacks continue.
“We are extremely worried by these events. Life in northern Kenya has come to a virtual standstill. We are tired of crying like babies and unless the government intervenes we shall be forced to buy guns from Somalia for personal protection,” Mr Shill said.
At least 16 people, including seven police officers, have lost their lives in terror-related attacks in the past one month.
TERROR
Al-Shabaab terrorists have used home-made bombs to target motorists, including police vehicles.
At a news conference in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Shill and six other MPs warned the government that its perceived lethargic response had emboldened the terrorists. He called for additional security personnel and armoured equipment to fight the terrorists.
The MP spoke a day after Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery acknowledged the threat and told the National Assembly's National Security Committee that additional resources had been sent to the regional coordinator.
“The region is fully covered. We have given the regional coordinator more resource to facilitate movement and communication to counter the threat posed by Al-Shabaab,” Mr Nkaissery said on Tuesday.
But on Wednesday, the MPs accused the minister of being untruthful and questioned the tactics employed by the government to fight the militants.
The MPs faulted the tactic of pursuing the attackers in vehicles while they escaped on foot, saying this must change if the attacks are to be halted.
POLICE RESERVISTS
They said the government must deploy Kenya Police Reservists (KPR), who they said are familiar with the terrain.
“We must be told why the government is uncomfortable with deployment of KPR in northern Kenya,” Mr Shill protested, noting that they have been deployed in Turkana, Lamu, Tana River and Kitui counties.
“The government should tell us if it has no faith in the region so that it is reluctant to deploy KPR in the region,” he said.
Garissa Woman Representative Shukran Gure said the government should only deploy better-quality armoured vehicles that will make it easier for police to engage the terror group.
“Nkaissery is busy threatening politicians yet police officers are dying on duty because of the poor-quality armoured vehicles. The government must protect the people in the region or they should instruct us to protect ourselves,” she said.
Other MPs at the press conference were Mohammed Dahir (Dadaab), Mohammed Shidiye (Lagdera) and Abbas Sheikh Mohammed (Wajir East). The statement was signed by Senator Yusuf Haji and Ijara MP Ibrahim Abbas.
