County leaders unite to curb crime

Mandera, Kenya: Mandera leaders on Thursday held a public baraza to discuss the wave of insecurity that has hit the county.

Recently, in a span of two weeks, more than 60 people were killed by Al-Shabaab militants.

The meeting, held at Mandera Sports Grounds, was part of a series of meetings involving stakeholders in the security sector, local political and religious leaders and the residents, in an effort to contain the rising cases of insecurity.

Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed said the war being waged by Al-Shabaab on the Kenyan soil is one that is meant to cause disharmony among Christians and Muslims.

He said the strength of Kenyans lies their diversity and that peaceful co-existence should not be allowed to wither away by the militia group whose agenda is to divide Kenyans along religious and racial lines.

Governor Ali Roba said the county would not condone terrorist activities, adding that terrorism threats would cripple the economic development of the county if allowed to continue.

Senator Billow Kerrow said the county has had enough of the volatile security and it was time for all leaders to unite and bring security and sanity back.

Mr Kerrow told residents to stop over-relying on the Government for security and instead, take the initiative and "sanitise" the county.

The leaders called for the enforcement of the Nyumba Kumi Initiative and increased vigilance on activities of foreigners in the county.

County Commissioner Alex Ole Nkoyo asked the residents to provide tip-offs to the police on any suspicion of terrorist activities.

"We should provide intelligence to the police to capture insurgents before they strike and inflict more harm to the residents", he said.

Mr Nkoyo said some of Al-Shabaab militants had infiltrated the county and were passing off as Mandera residents with the knowledge of some residents.

Also present were legislators Mohamed Mohamud, Shaaban Issak, Abdiaziz Farah, and Nominated MP Hassan Osman.

The county has greatly suffered after government and private service providers who are not natives of the area moved out citing insecurity.