MPs want Immigration officers arrested

MPs investigating the Westgate shopping mall attack want staff at the Department of Immigration Services held accountable for compromising national security following the terrorist attack in September last year that left at least 67 people dead.

The joint Security, Defence and Foreign Affairs committee report tabled before Parliament in December says that the department has been registering foreigners as Kenyans and providing some with travel documents to facilitate movement without due diligence.

Some of those with dubious papers have turned out to be terrorists, according to the parliamentarians.

“Stern action including prosecution should be taken against the culprits in these departments,” says the report of the committee which was co-chaired by Mr Asman Kamama and Mr Ndung’u Gathenji.

The report called for the government to carry out radical reforms at Immigration to get rid of corrupt and negligent staff.

“The Government should second trained security officers including retired military officers, vetted administrators and NIS (National Intelligence Service) officers who have a security background, to the department,” says the report.

Lately, the department has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. After the Westgate attack, the Interior Ministry interdicted 20 officers and hired 15 former District Commissioners to replace them. The officers, who were interdicted for alleged irregular issuance of passports, have gone to court to clear their names.

Two weeks ago, the acting Director of Immigration Department Jane Waikenda was interrogated by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over issuance of more than 200 work permits in October last year. Investigations are continuing but she has denied any impropriety.

MPs also called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to establish the Directorate of National Security to co-ordinate and implement security intelligence information.

NEW ORGAN

According to the joint parliamentary committee, the Director of the new security organ will be in charge of the National Inter-Agency Co-ordination Centre whose staff will be drawn from all security agencies.

“The Directorate of National Security with membership from all security agencies will ensure intelligence gathering, information sharing and implementation is carried out. The directorate premised on a single and secure information management programme, shall be reporting to the constituting agencies,” says the committee’s report.

In the aftermath of the attack, security agencies were accused of failing to act on intelligence reports and bungling of the rescue mission. The legislators have also proposed the formation of Special Rapid Response Commandos to tackle emergencies.

Asked about the proposal, House Majority Leader Mr Aden Duale told Sunday Nation the establishment of the inter-agency centre will ensure accountability.

“We will know that there is only one counter-terrorism centre which co-ordinates, shares and implements information,” said Mr Duale.

The committee also made a radical recommendation that the government constructs a forensic laboratory for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations “to ensure data collection, handling and compilation was improved”.

Ten years ago, the construction and equipping of a forensic laboratory stalled after it turned out to be among the Anglo-Leasing contracts scandal.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Declare war against al-Shabaab inside and outside Kenya.

Establish a National Inter-Agency Co-ordination Centre with membership from all the security agencies, to gather, share and act on intelligence.

Clean up and reform the Immigration Department, including employing officials with a security background.

Relocate Kenya’s Embassy to Somalia from Nairobi to Mogadishu to strengthen diplomatic ties.

The Refugee Act, 2006, should be repealed and a new law developed to guide the handling of the refugees.

Dadaab and Kakuma camps should be closed and refugees returned to their countries of origin.

Further investigation on security lapses, including the handling of intelligence.

Establish of special rapid response commandos within the military and the police to respond to emergency situations including terrorism.

Build a forensic laboratory for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

Come up with policies to regulate mainstream and social media content during live coverage of emergency situations.

Identify and keep a manifest of all important landmarks, strategic infrastructure and key installations that could be potential terrorist targets.

Register all SIM cards.

Provide start-up capital and tax incentives to persons who lost their properties as well as offer ex gratia assistance to the victims of the attack.

Develop a school-based curriculum on National Service premised on patriotism, nationalism and service to the nation. Measures should also be put in place to ensure that youth are engaged in some gainful employment.