Kenya backs war on Somali pirates

By Isaac Ongiri

Defence Minister Yusuf Haji and Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula say the Government supports efforts by joint forces to weed out piracy from the Indian Ocean.

Addressing a meeting attended by diplomats and other stakeholders from maritime organisations at the Hotel Intercontinental, Haji said there is need to secure the eastern coastline.

"It is a serious menace that we need to deal with once and for all. We support efforts to make the coastline safer," Haji said.

Wetang’ula also supported the recent UN Security Council’s move to secure the coastline following increased incidences of piracy.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had on Thursday requested the UN Security Council to involve more states that have the capacity to fight piracy to join others who are already on course.

Meanwhile the Interpol has convened a workshop of 26 African countries on counterfeiting and piracy in Eastern and Southern African states in Nairobi.

Police Commissioner Major Gen Hussein Ali said the Kenya Police and the Interpol would join hands to fight sale of counterfeit products, saying Kenya is a major destination for smuggled products from Asia.

The workshop began on Thursday and will end on Tuesday.

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