Obama visit should strengthen security ties between Kenya and US, says Tetu MP

Tetu MP Ndung'u Gethenji watches as Father Joseph Muriithi of Ngooru Catholic Church in Nyeri consecrates a public address system the legislator donated. [Photo: Kibata Kihu/Standard]

US President Barack Obama’s visit will strengthen the security partnership between Kenya and the US in fighting terrorism, National Assembly Defence and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ndung’u Gethenji has said.

Mr Gethenji, who was speaking at Ngooru Catholic Church in Tetu constituency, Nyeri, Sunday highlighted some of the milestones Kenya has achieved through working closely with the US.

“Since the Westgate Shopping Mall terror attack, the US has been very instrumental in assisting Kenya kill terror attack masterminds and destroy their camps. We would wish to see President Obama reaffirm his commitment to continue supporting us,” said Gethenji.

He said a continued close relationship between Kenya and US would foster their security, economic, and foreign policy interests, which he believes are overlapped.

The Tetu MP, said Kenya was a key target by terrorists because of its leading role in the fight against the vice particularly in Somalia where its troops are battling Al Shabaab under the aegis of African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom).

He appealed to the European Union and other international partners to continue supporting Amisom troops until the terrorists are annihilated.

Gethenji, however, expressed fears that Al Shabaab attacks had led to an escalation of ethnic and religious prejudice among Kenyans.

“Some people want to make North Eastern region an ethnic state where citizens from other parts of the country feel insecure, intimidated, and are sometimes removed by force in the name of anti-terror campaigns,” he said.

Gethenji reiterated that all Kenyans had a constitutional right to live in peace in any part of the country.

He urged leaders in northern Kenya to unite and curb violent extremism with the same vigour that Central Kenya MPs had while fighting second-generation alcoholic drinks.

Gethenji criticised the Opposition for refusal to appreciate the work of the National Youth Service.