Willy Mutunga: Terrorism big threat

Kenya: Chief Justice (CJ) Willy Mutunga has said terrorism is the greatest threat to human rights and security.

The CJ said terror activities are similar to those posed by piracy and slavery, adding that both are serious crimes against humanity.

"We must not trivialise terrorism. It is not an ordinary crime which can be dealt with under ordinary penal laws. To do so, is to decontextualise and de-link it from the social context in which it operates thus undermining efforts to deal with it," said Mutunga.

The Chief Justice said this in a speech read on his behalf by Court of Appeal President Justice Paul Kihara during Human Rights and Security conference organised by Haki Africa at Whitesand Hotel in Mombasa yesterday.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar said: "The hotels and parks are empty, and people have lost their jobs in the tourism industry and we call on the Government to restore security for the tourists to start coming."

Mutunga warned Kenyans against losing faith in themselves, saying when we forget our values we become a pale imitation of the terrorists.