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| There is every indication that the Kenyan State is not able to tame terrorism |
By: Pius Mukusya Maundu
Soon, terrorists are going to hit us. Again.
When terrorists killed over 50 Kenyans in Mpeketoni
in the coastal town of Lamu, I reacted on Twitter.
“It is official: we have lost it.”
President Kenyatta and top brass security officials
spend the better part of the day at Harambee House holed in a strategic meeting
to address the runaway insecurity in the country. Later in the day, a section
of those in attendance flew southwards, to Mpeketoni.
That night, an upwards of 15 lives were to be lost
at Poromoko village, a heartbeat away from Mpeketoni.
More shocking than the fact that the killlers took
more than four hours in their spree was the outcome of the Harambee House
deliberations: that the attack was cordinated by politicians.
Obviously, terrorists have identified our Achilles’s
heel. The state is incapable of neutering terrorism.
Recent events are proof enough that the Kenyan state
is not able to tame terrorism. Beginning with the top creme in the security
docket, to the foot soldiers, it is clear that Kenyans are exposed. Gaffes by
Interior Cabinet Secretary are not only embarrassing but also unfortunate.
For instance, the clamor that the Mpeketoni attacks
were ochestrated by CORD leaders is the most laughable, and unfortunate.It
effectively rekindles the burning mattresess theorem during the terror attack
at Westgate Shopping Mall.
Instead of
owning that the country was in a crisis and appropriating workable
solutions, the state is audicious enough to tell the world that utterances by
the Opposition sparked the killings and destruction of property.
Political animosity is known to spark incivility. It
has happened in Kenyan in the December of 2007 and the January of 2008. It has
happened in 1997, 1992, and in 1984, during the infamous Wagalla Masacre.
But
in this particualar case, there is every indication that terrorists are calling
the shots.
And as if to rebuke the declaration that politicians
fertilized the heinous activities in Mpeketoni, Al-Shabaab owned to
ochastrating the attrocities.
“We hereby warn the Kenyan government and its
public that as long as you continue to invade our lands and oppress innocent
Muslims, such attacks will continue and the prospect of peace and stability in Kenya
will be but a distant mirage. Do not ever dream of living peacefully in your
lands while your forces kill the innocent in our lands,”
Naturally,
one cannot help questioning the ability of the Kenyan security forces on
reacting to terrorism. That 50 insurgents could infiltrate into Kenya, raid a
Police station, kill residents in a well calculated manner leaves more
questions than answers. This when the NIS are in existence?
To get to
the bottom of these issues, it is imperative to querry the leadership of the
security apparatus. Afterall a snake is as good as its head.
But what do we get!
Not so long ago, a section of the media carried a
story touching on a controversial stand by Julius Waweru Karangi, Chief of the Kenya
Defence Forces, on elitism in the armed forces. Tittled, “Bright heads do not
make good soldiers,” the implications of the utterances by the security chief
are chilling. Quoting Karangi, the news article read in part:
“Instead of enlisting candidates who will start
seeking time off to go to university, we opt to recruit those with minimum
grades.”
Karangi’s contention is mediaval, to say the least.
Today, millitary activities are no longer predominantly combat. Most wars are won
on elaborate mathematical strategizing.
Bellum se ipsum alet is gradually becoming obsolete. To
understand social engineering and neuter cyber terrrorism, for instance, one
does not need a bazooka. Coercion, a popular miltary tactic in conflict zones,
requires that soldiers understand communication. Hence the need for soldiers to
go back to class and hone their skills in fighting amoebic threats.
Contending that soldiers do not require training, therefore
is defeatist. It is highly demotivating. Just like ordering sleuths to share
rooms. It is telltale that Kenyans should expect worse on security.
This obvious metaphorical sucking on the foot is further
evident in Isaac Obiero’s mien.
Obiero,
an Administration Police officer recently shot dead a football fan in Kisumu. Before he
opened fire on the father of one, Obiero had switched off the TV on which
dozens of fans were following World Cup events in Brazil. It is alleged that
the shooting was in angst when the slain fan questioned his unbecoming
behavior.
Allow a deviation from the theatrics meted on Police
Contable Linda Okello. And even the jig saw between the office of the Police
Inspector and that of National Intelligence Service on acquiring and
disseminating intelligence. Going this route will frustrate efforts examine the
country’s security apparatus meritoriously.
It would be unwise to label the Kenyan security
apparatus as obsolete. Our gallant soldiers have been stunning themselves in
other areas. Say manning VIPs, collecting 50 KES levy on our highways and
shielding those curling elephant tusks. But not in quelling terrorism.
Otherwise, it would mean that the state is not
willing to tame terrorism. But this theorem is easily defeated by the heavy
investment in advertisements and CCTV cameras spearheaded by the President
himself.
Heavy investment in the Integrated Public Safety
Communication and Surveillance System project is indicative that the present regime is
willing to do something on security.
But when, in a kneejerk to the Mpeketoni terror,
Lenku poked holes at Safaricom, the
company entrusted with the 14.7 billion Kenya shillings for the gangantuan
sophisticated security project, saying that it was saillable, he effectively
played into the hands of legislators and Kenyans who have been jittery on the
tendering process, especially citing the
ability of Safaricom to handle such a task.
Once bitten at the Anglo Leasing security contracts,
Kenyans are twice shy. In this jigsaw, the trace indicators of the willingness
of the state of enhance security are utterly defeated.
In this light, Kenyans and visitors to the country
should prepare for the next terror attack. For it is bound to happen. Sooner or
later.
The Star: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-172193/lets-be-prepared-next-terrorist-attack
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