NAIROBI, KENYA: Ex-soldiers and police officers want the government to engage them in the fight against insecurity and terrorism currently rocking the country.
They said they were ready to help the current crop of disciplined officers to restore peace and guarantee the safety of people.
Speaking in Nairobi yesterday, Director of Global Veterans – the lobby of the retired soldiers and police officers-- Mr John Mathenge called upon the Ministry of Interior, Devolution and Planning, and Foreign Affairs to allow the veterans voluntarily offer their services to the nation.
“We wish to inform the government that there are several patriotic retired members of the disciplined forces drawn from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service and the Prison Service among others who are willing to be part of the solution to the security challenges facing the country,” said Mathenge.
“As much as we retired, we are not tired. We are strong and willing to offer voluntary services and help the government restore peace and tackle criminals,” he added.
He also condemned retired officers allowing themselves to be sponsored by the leaders with ill motives to cause mayhem in the country and paint a negative picture on the existing government.
“We are disappointed with those disgruntled leaders who are sponsoring criminals and recruiting retired members from the disciplined service to cause chaos and mayhem in our beloved nation,” Mathenge said at a news conference early Saturday.
He also claimed that the killings of police officers in Kapedo was politically-motivated. They said those behind the killings had wanted to discredit the government in power using some of the retired members from the discipline services from the Coastal region, North Eastern and North Rift regions.
“We don’t need to condemn, wholesomely, the retired officers for the killings. Those who did it are criminals who were sponsored by malicious political leaders and should be dealt with ruthlessly,” he asserted.
The veterans unanimously said they were willing to provide guarded information on crime and terror, cattle rustling and influx of small arms from the neighbouring countries and to mentor the youth among other voluntary community activities to the grass root level.
Mathenge also said the government should stop forceful disarmament operations and torture of the Kapedo residents but to engage them in peaceful talks so that they surrender the weapons willingly.
He said the veterans are willing to conduct peaceful talks with the people of Kapedo and other hotspots and ensure they surrender guns.
“The more you compel these people to surrender guns, the more they acquire more. The government should stop such ruthless operations and engage the people in peaceful talks. Talks do wonders,” he said.
The veterans also urged the government to ensure tight security at the borders to prevent the streaming in of weapons from the neighbouring countries.
They also said the silence of the Al-Shabaab should not be taken lightly. “These terrorists may be quiet but are planning a major attack. We should not relent in our efforts to ensure the country is safe,” said Mathenge.
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“We would like to teach Kenyans about terrorism and how to protect themselves. We also want to teach guards from various security firms on how best to search and identify terrorists,” he said.
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