Lawmakers up in arms, Kenyans protest over insecurity countrywide

After daylong protests that erupted in waves of tear gas, the uproar over the Government’s handling of national security moved to Parliament where lawmakers declared the buck stopped with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, and demanded action.

The National Assembly and Senate last evening suspended normal business to discuss the spiraling insecurity following Saturday’s massacre of 28-19 men and nine women-in Mandera by Al-Shabaab gunmen who shot them in the head.

“MPs from across the political divide told President Kenyatta to take responsibility for the insecurity in the country, as he chairs the highest national security organ, the National Security Council (NSC).

Some pressed for the sacking of Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, but others said the purge should be extended to all those who sit in the NSC.

Majority Leader Aden Duale urged the National Assembly to provide a solution through legislation.

Ol Jorok MP John Waiganjo and his counterparts Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria) and Ali Wario (Bura) said article 240 of the Constitution bestows on the President a role in managing national security, besides being the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Others who sit in the NSC are Deputy President Ruto, Cabinet secretaries Raychelle Omamo (Defence), Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs) and ole Lenku (Interior), Attorney General Githu Muigai, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Julius Karangi, Director General of the National Intelligence Service Philip Kameru and Mr Kimaiyo.

"When Kenyans are looking for answers on insecurity, these are the nine people to look to," Waiganjo said.

Wario said: "Let's not just say sack Lenku or Kimaiyo. Let's ask the nine people who sit in NSC to tell us what they have done."

"The President chairs the National Security Council and he must be told that the buck stops with him even as we demand that heads must roll," Moroto said.

Minority Deputy Whip Chris Wamalwa added, "When it comes to issues of security, the buck stops with the President. We hope the President is listening to this. The Head of State has all the security apparatus to ensure action is taken to secure Kenyans."

"Here we are saying Lenku or Kimaiyo but we are forgetting who has employed the two. Jubilee talks about economic development but forgets that Kenya can't attain its economic goals with this kind of insecurity," Kajiado West MP Moses ole Sakuda said.

Eldas MP Adan Keynan said some security chiefs should be charged with treason for their role in training 3,920 Kenyan Somalis to work in the military of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia in 2009.

"It's a fact that in 2009, some people picked a foreign police from River Road and resolved to recruit Kenyans of Somali ethnicity who did not go to Somalia. Where are these youths today?" Keynan asked.

Kajiado Central MP Joseph Nkaiserry defended Lenku saying he is not the ground commander. "Lenku is not the problem. The problem is the people who recruited 3,920 youths whom we don't know where they are," Nkaiserry said.

Leader of Minority Francis Nyenze urged the State to learn from the efficient intelligence systems in neighbouring countries whose forces are in Somalia but are not targeted by frequent terror attacks.

"Heads must roll; Lenku and Kimaiyo must take responsibility," charged Mbalambala MP Abdikadir Aden.

officials summoned

Wajir West MP Abdikadir Ogle said: "There is no need for KDF to be in Kismayu to trade in charcoal. Instead, let them come home and protect our people."

Kieni MP Kanini Kega questioned the leadership of Kimaiyo and his deputies Grace Kaindi and Samuel Arachi.

"It is time either a reshuffle is done or some sacking. It's time to tell the President and his deputy that on matters security, you have failed us. It's time, Lenku and Kimaiyo went," said Nairobi Woman Representative Rachael Shebesh.

"Let's not shift responsibility on the people in charge of operations, KDF, CID, regular police, APs must be held into account not a CS whose is work is merely policy," said Rangwe MP George Oner.

Earlier, members of the National Assembly's departmental committee on Administration and National Security said they would summon the newly appointed NIS boss to explain what appears as a structural failure in intelligence.

Also to be summoned by the committee led by Asman Kamama are the Mandera County Commanders of AP and regular police for questioning regarding their existing seniority differences that have affected the commanding directive in event of insecurity alerts.

"Our nation is under attack. We should unite in finding solutions to the terrorism menace," said  National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale.

In the Senate, Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow, who moved the Motion, wondered why a military camp which had seven armoured personnel carriers, was closed two weeks to the massacre.

intelligence provided

He told the House that intelligence had been forwarded to the police beforehand, but they failed to act.

"Police in Mandera are ill-equipped to protect Kenyans. One is left wondering why the Ethiopia forces are manning the Somali side of the border with Kenya and not the Kenya army in Amisom,"  he noted.

"They (top security leadership) have a duty to vacate office on their own volition or they are made to leave. The Government has been giving knee-jerk reactions to attacks on Kenyans," said Senate Leader of Minority Moses Wetang'ula (Bungoma).

"Kenyans are being murdered, slaughtered like goats. The Government is only heard whining once an incident has happened," said Senate Minority Whip Johnstone Muthama (Machakos).

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi) said the attacks were meant to divide Kenyans along religious lines, but would not succeed.

"We are not going to be cowards, we will instead emerge stronger than before, both Muslims and Christians," Kindiki declared.

"God does not depend on men to fight His battle in the desert and in the forests. I want to assure Kenyans that criminals using religion to ruin the peaceful existence of this nation will not succeed," he added.

Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet ) said the House was united in calling for the replacement of senior managers in security.

"We have told the President both privately and publicly that Kenyans are tired of how their security is being managed," he said.

Senator Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), whose county lost 10 citizens, said intelligence had been provided to the police but they failed to act. "You can have all mega projects  you want but if you do not bring security they won't count for anything,"  he said.

Senator Kiraitu Murungi (Meru) warned Kenyans not to treat Al-Shabaab as religious extremists but as criminals.