Official warns Kenyan residents against hiding al Shabaab terrorists in their homes

North Eastern's Regional Commissioner in charge of the security operation in Boni Forest Peter ole Serian, yesterday visited residents of Ijara and Hulugo sub-counties affected by the ongoing operation and warned them against accommodating suspected terrorists in their homes.

Some of the Kenya Defence Forces armoured personnel carriers being driven to Lamu County for the Boni Forest security operation, as soldiers prepare to flush out al Shabaab terrorists hiding in the forest. (PHOTO: GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD)

Mr Serian appealed to security forces and local administrators to work together with the community to flush out all those hiding in the forest.

Addressing sub-county administrators and chiefs at Masalani and Hulugo in Ijara sub-county, Garissa County, Serian cautioned that the Government will not spare those who sympathise with the militia group and warned against politicising the security operation.

Speaking during a closed-door meeting in Masalani sub-county, he said anybody linked to Al Shabaab will not be left to go Scot-free.

More vehicles

The regional commissioner promised that the Government would provide more vehicles to each division to counter terrorism and ensure that the operation succeeds.

Earlier, local chiefs complained that some villagers were being targetted by militiamen for spying for the Government.

They also complained about lack of transport in case they were invaded by terrorists.

They told the commissioner that security personnel concentrate only in trading centres, leaving innocent locals who are mainly herders without security.

"We have no security in our manyattas and this will pose as a soft target," said one of the chiefs.

However, Serian said Hulugo and Bodhai divisions would receive more vehicles to assist in the operations but asked residents from Lamu and Garissa counties to co-operate with security personnel.

Serian was posted to North Eastern region early last month by Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to head the Boni Forest security operation.

He is currently the regional commissioner for Western and will go back to his station after completion of the operation.

So far, no arrests of suspected terrorists have been reported since the operation started last month within the vast Boni Forest, which extends from Tana River County to the Kenya-Somalia border.