State must rethink security strategy

On Saturday morning, Kenyans woke up to shocking news that 28 of their countrymen and women had been massacred at dawn by suspected Al-Shabaab militants who had executed their heinous murder and disappeared in thin air.

The latest killing drew the anger of Kenyans who resorted to social media to express their frustration against a government that seems to be not only inept but clueless on how to handle security matters.

As usual, a well-oiled government propaganda and PR machine reacted by going on the offensive to claim that KDF had followed the terrorists and bombarded their camps inside Somalia, killing several militants.

The latest incident compounds the security crisis in the country, coming a fortnight after 22 police officers were massacred in cold blood by suspected Pokot rustlers in Kapedo.

Although the sporadic attacks began under the last days of the Grand Coalition Government, they have intensified in the last 18 months of the Jubilee-led Government.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto, top security chiefs led by Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, the KDF chief Julius Karangi and group have come out on several occasions to reassure the country of their efforts to secure us.

However, our hopes get diminished every single day the State officers talk tough, but no tangible action is taken. The Kenyan security system appears largely reactive and not pro-active. The cardinal role of any Government is to secure the property and lives of its people.

Yet hundreds have been murdered and thousands maimed in unresolved terrorist and security-related attacks; from Westgate, Lamu, Gikomba, Likoni Wajir, Marsabait, Tana River, Turkana, Bungoma, Baragoi and now Mandera.

I have had an occasion to discuss Kenya's security challenge with security officers, mostly those from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the regular police. What is apparent is a systemic and structural failure in the harmonious working of the security organs.

NIS will always say they had provided intelligence, but police will be quick to dismiss it as vague. The public is then left at the mercy of criminals. It is a common belief within intelligence circles that some corrupt police officers are engaged in trading of information for monetary gains.

The Mandera case is a classic example. Mandera Governor Ali Roba shared intelligence with police over a looming attack and feeling that perhaps no action would be taken, convened a press conference where he said he had received intelligence which he shared with the police over an impending attack.

The story was covered in the media. The most perturbing reaction is that of Kimaiyo, who said they did not receive any intelligence from Roba. And even if he didn't, the governor had made it public. Which begs the question why the officers did not make a follow-up from the media reports.

Westgate, Lamu, Baragoi, Wajir, Madera, Bungoma are some of the macabre killings which remain unresolved to date. President Kenyatta must take decisive action and re-organise the security apparatus. It is not enough to appear on TV adverts telling Kenyans of their role in security or assuring them of his Government's commitment to apprehend the perpetrators.

At the same time, the Government should also rein in its bloggers and pro-system bloggers who will not waste an opportunity in either misinforming the public or dismissing those who demand answers on insecurity as Opposition sympathisers.

Security wars are not won or fought on social media, but through tangible strategies put in place not only to detect criminal plans, thereby nipping them in the bud.

Kenya cannot afford to go the Nigeria way, where Boko Haram controls a big chunk of Northern Nigeria.

When terrorism and insecurity rear their ugly heads, no Kenyan will be spared, be it Jubilee or Cord supporters. We all have a stake in the country and the Government must listen to the voices of those crying for help. Kenya cannot aspire to be a middle-income economy when it cannot guarantee the right to security and life.