Stop this Al-Shabaab menace in the north

Security officers patrol the Kenya-Somalia border. Several officers were injured after Al-Shabaab gunmen attacked their vehicles at Yumbis in Fafi Sub-County, Garissa County, on May 25, 2015. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP.

What you need to know:

  • One would reasonably expect that with the terrorist outrages in the region witnessed over the past year, every inch of Kenyan soil in proximity to the Somalia border would be teeming with security forces.
  • The latest incidents just reinforce that view. One would expect that after just one terrorist attack, the security forces would respond with all the power at their command to ensure that tit does not happen again.

The succession of terrorist infiltrations in Garissa county over the past few days, resulting in the killing of two policemen and the burning of five patrol vehicles, must raise the red flag.

Although initial reports of up to 20 security officers killed that caused a great deal of alarm and outrage were thankfully shown to be false, it still is no comfort that Al-Shabaab bandits still seem to be operating with impunity in a vast region.

One would reasonably expect that with the terrorist outrages in the region witnessed over the past year, every inch of Kenyan soil in proximity to the Somalia border would be teeming with security forces.

We acknowledge that policing such a large land mass from the extensive Somali border and many miles inland cannot be easy. However, the frequency of incidents suggests that not enough is being done.

SURRENDERING TO TERRORISTS

From the Mpeketoni massacre in Lamu County last June to the series of terrorist attacks that include two major separate incidents in Mandera County towards the end of the same year and the Garissa University College attack last month, it would appear that the government is surrendering a large swathe of Kenya to terrorists.

The latest incidents just reinforce that view. One would expect that after just one terrorist attack, the security forces would respond with all the power at their command to ensure that tit does not happen again.

Kenyans demand security across the entire country and expect tough preventive measures and robust responses at any sign of danger. What is needed is deployment of enough boots on the ground with adequate weaponry, mobility, air support, and all other resources needed to tackle any threats.

That will be much more useful than denials, obfuscation, and deployment of social media warriors to launch diversionary tirades against the imaginary enemies.