The Government plans to deal firmly with criminal gangs that have been terrorising Kenyans, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has said.
Speaking in Nyeri yesterday, Dr Matiang'i also warned politicians who use the gangs to terrorise their opponents that their days were numbered. "As a government, we are determined to deal with criminal gangs. We will apply pressure on them until they are all decimated," Matiang'i said.
"We know that politics is the cause of the revival of these gangs, not just in Central Kenya, but also at the Coast."
Matiang'i was addressing chiefs and their assistants. His Nyeri visit is considered a political preamble to the highly anticipated visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta to the central region.
He was accompanied by a high powered delegation composed of Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, Senator Ephraim Maina, MPs Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri town), James Gichuhi (Tetu) and Kanini Kega (Kieni).
Also present were Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, Information and Communication Technology Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru and Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho.
At the same time, Matiang'i asked the local administration to share information on young people who might be engaged in terror activities.
"We have credible intelligence that some youths have gone to Somalia and are back, having been trained to carry out terror attacks. We wants chiefs to share information on such youth," the CS said.
He said the Government had credible information that terror activities were planned in rural towns.
While commenting on the nationwide problem of delayed civil registrations, Matiang'i commended central Kenya as the only region that had cleared his registrations backlog.
Ruringu Stadium
"I want to thank the chiefs and the entire administration because other regions have up to over 20,000 pending registrations," Matiang’i said.
The CS asked Nyeri County Commissioner David Kipkemei to personally monitor construction of Ruringu Stadium and ensure it is completed within the set deadlines.
He emphasised that the national government implementation committee had promised to ensure that most development projects are completed. He said the Government would not back-peddle on its promises.
Matiang'i then led the other State officials to launch the Kagwaithi Police Post, where he said police welfare was a priority for the Government. "In this year's budget, we have set aside Sh1 billion to improve the welfare of police," he said.
Mr Kibicho said in the coming weeks assistant chiefs would be assigned more roles different from ensuring security.
