We must change tack to counter terrorism

The bodies of 28 Kenyans killed in a dawn attack on November 22, 2014 at Omar Jilo in Mandera County. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Although it is understood that changing the leadership in the Internal Security docket will not stop terrorist from launching attacks, there is now plausible justification for change if we are to find workable approaches and renewed impetus to respond to the current threat.
  • The militants have retreated to other parts of Kenya, areas that afford them suitable conditions to commit their atrocious attacks using hit-and-run tactics.
  • The pattern of recent attacks in Mandera and Mombasa should have alerted the authorities that the enemy is hyperactive, an indication of potential major assaults.

I have lost count of the number of Kenyans who have been killed by terrorists.

From the small-scale attacks that affected churches in Garissa and Mombasa to the IEDs blowing passenger vehicles to pieces around Eastleigh and the massacre at Westgate and now the latest, where 28 people on a bus were last weekend massacred in Mandera.

It is sad that lives continue to be lost in spite of the experience we have accrued in regard to terrorism. Either we do not care about what is happening or someone in authority is sitting back, hoping that things will eventually go back to normal.

We must rework our systems to offer effective preventive and pre-emptive solutions that can stop terrorism within our borders. It is unacceptable that Al-Shabaab seems to enjoy freedom to take its bloody campaign to any part of Kenya that it wishes, be it Mandera or Mombasa.

Clearly, those at the helm of national security are not about to take responsibility for their glaring failures. Although it is understood that changing the leadership in the Internal Security docket will not stop terrorist from launching attacks, there is now plausible justification for change if we are to find workable approaches and renewed impetus to respond to the current threat.

ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES

The time has come for the President to crack the whip. Continued inaction on his part is not acceptable.

Al-Shabaab can no longer attack in cities like Nairobi because of enhanced security measures (which I think are still not sufficient) that sealed some loopholes that the group previously exploited.

Now the militants have retreated to other parts of Kenya, areas that afford them suitable conditions to commit their atrocious attacks using hit-and-run tactics. In essence, the terrorists have extended the depth of the battle, to which the internal security apparatus seems incapable of countering as it appears to be out of touch with the reality on the ground.

The pattern of recent attacks in Mandera and Mombasa should have alerted the authorities that the enemy is hyperactive, an indication of potential major assaults.

The government is obviously a high-value target of symbolic importance for the Al-Shabaab extremists, who have enlisted Mombasa youths in a kamikaze attempt on highly fortified military barracks. Neutralising one of these targets would be a huge victory for the militants as it would raise the group’s profile and visibility.

COLLECTIVE EFFORTS

Our collective efforts should be focused on disrupting not only Al-Shabaab’s operations but completely defeating them and eradicating the menace they represent.

The Kenyan Government needs to invoke emergency measures and assemble a task force that is suitably trained to handle trouble spots in the remote border regions. The task force needs to be given operational independence in order to offer emergency response and arrest attackers.

Organisational redesign and changes in operational capability needs able leadership with professional competence to steer it to progress. It is time to consider change in the leadership of the institutions responsible for national security.

Mr Wato, a former military officer, is a security official with an international organisation. ([email protected])