What really is the problem at the Coast?

There are more questions than answers as to what is currently going on in the coastal region, especially Lamu. But the lack of proper and consistent information from the authorities only worsens matters.

Last week, prominent Mombasa businessman Shahid Butt, the proprietor of Modern Coast Bus, was gunned down under unclear circumstances by unknown gunmen. Preliminary reports indicated he was shot down because of his terrorist-related activities. This begs the questions; if the State is mandated to fight terrorism, were State agents involved in the killing? Are there individuals licensed to carry out executions on people suspected of abetting terrorism in the country?

On the other hand, it is suspected that the killing could be as a result of business rivalry. Whatever the case, an individual's right to life is enshrined in the Constitution and the Government is duty-bound to accord security to every Kenyan. The State has clearly not acquitted itself very well in this regard. Truth be told, it seems to have terribly failed in that obligation.

Anarchy is taking root at the Coast. Events have confirmed that security agents have been overrun and have no inkling of what might happen next. Killers attack villages at will, shoot and hack selected people to death and walk away unchallenged to plan the next attack.

The Government's stand has been curious. Inasmuch as it has endeavoured to explain the killings, it has not tackled the security threat decisively. Alternately, the public has been informed it was the Opposition using the Mungiki and MRC to kill, or that it was ethnic cleansing. The outlawed Mombasa Republican Council has been blamed, but the outfit has since denied those claims. People suspected to be terrorists have been arrested only to be released over lack of evidence. Lamu Governor Issa Timamy was also arrested but later released without any charge.

Are there gang wars in Mombasa? Is there ethnic cleansing and who stands to benefit eventually? These are questions to which Kenyans demand answers. People cannot be subjected to perpetual fear as if Kenya is a failed state. The President and his deputy have never ceased or tired of telling Kenyans they are firmly in control, but have been at pains to prove it by making the country safe.