Joseph Nkaissery assures teachers of security in Mandera, Wajir

Kenya: Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has asked teachers who had refused to travel back to Mandera and Wajir to report back to their work stations, saying security in the regions has been beefed up.

He said various measures have been put in place to tame any future terror-related attacks.

“I appeal to teachers and other public servants who have fled war-torn areas like North Eastern counties following recent terrorist attacks to go back and work,” he said.

Nkaissery affirmed that the situation is stable in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties, noting that he is in constant communication with the county officials in the areas.

“We have deployed enough security officers in these areas and if county commissioners need reinforcement, they will only be required to put in a request,” he assured.

SECURITY STRATEGY

He added that the Government is in the process of putting up structures to address the terror threats the country faces.

Nkaissery said his ministry is working on modalities to ensure Kenyan citizens and their properties are secure.

“We are working on a strategy on how to secure our country and the porous borders against extremists’ activities,” said the CS.

Nkaissery, who spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing Fifth Ordinary Session of the Plenary Assembly of the Forum of Parliament of Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR), which he officially opened yesterday, affirmed that insecurity is a major concern in the quest for the region’s stability.

The CS however declined to divulge the details of his plans, insisting that within three to four months, he is certain the country will be secure. “I will not discuss the details for now but obviously, we will reveal the strategy to Kenyans in due course,” he stated.

Teachers operating in the areas had refused to report back to their work stations, citing insecurity. They have been camping outside the Teachers Service Commission offices seeking to be transferred to safer places.

The more than 1,000 teachers say the area is still prone to terror attacks, hence need for them to be moved. TSC has refused to move them, insisting the security situation has improved.