House asked to sack spy chiefs

What you need to know:

  • The petitioners accuse National Intelligence Service Director-General Philip Kameru and other top officers at the agency of laxity and incompetence.
  • The clerics, who included Cardinal John Njue of the Catholic Church, said churches were shocked by information that the government, through its intelligence services, knew of an impending attack but did nothing.
  • The petitioners make the same claim, blaming the intelligence service for the spate of terrorist attacks in Kenya.

Parliament has received a petition requesting the sacking of intelligence bosses over terrorist attacks.

Twenty-five people, who include relatives of the victims of the terrorism at Garissa University College, have asked the National Assembly to send the officials packing. The Clerk received the petition yesterday.

The petitioners accuse National Intelligence Service Director-General Philip Kameru and other top officers at the agency of laxity and incompetence.

Security chiefs have been on the receiving end following the Garissa attack that left 148 people dead and 79 others injured.

The government reportedly ignored and dismissed a warning from Britain and Australia of an impending attack in Kenya.

Last week, church leaders said top security chiefs must take responsibility for negligence and abdication of duty that led to the massacre.

The clerics, who included Cardinal John Njue of the Catholic Church, said churches were shocked by information that the government, through its intelligence services, knew of an impending attack but did nothing.

“We shall not tire in reminding the government to take its responsibility to protect every Kenyan more seriously.

“Clearly, there exists serious loopholes in the chain of command in our security apparatus,” they said in a statement issued at Chiromo Mortuary in Nairobi last Friday, where they had visited grieving relatives of Garissa attack victims.

The petitioners make the same claim, blaming the intelligence service for the spate of terrorist attacks in Kenya.

The National Assembly will be notified of the petition before the Speaker refers it to the relevant committee.

The House team will invite the petitioners to substantiate and explain their allegations.

It will then compile a report with recommendations to the National Assembly.