By Boniface Ongeri

 The Government apologised for the use of excessive force by police during the search for gunmen who hurled grenades and sprayed bullets at Iftin Police Post in Garissa on Monday night.

Garissa County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed said they regretted the harassment of innocent people by police officers.

During the operation, police allegedly broke into homes and beat occupants inflicting injuries. Those injured included a 70-year-old terminally ill woman and a 54-year-old man suffering from diabetes and recuperating from surgery.

Abdullahi Mohammed, the Director of WomanKind organisation, said 20 people were injured in the three-hour operation.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The County Commissioner said residents are important in the fight against Al Shabaab militants and sympathisers, adding that the harassment would not happen again.

Speaking during a security meeting with residents at Garissa Guest House, Mohammed said police officers should emulate the Kenya Defense Forces in dealing with civilians during operations.

“The KDF have not violated human rights despite dealing with terrorists among civilians. The war on the militants in Kenya will be won through winning the hearts and minds of people and not through force,” he said.

At the meeting, North Eastern PC Ernest Munyi said they would investigate how the Nairobi-bound explosives seized in Mwingi District were cleared at the Tana River Bridge, Mororo, and Bangale police checks.

He said if the officers who were manning the checkpoints were found to have been complicit they would be sacked.

“The seizure of the weapons that would have caused damage in Nairobi has embarrassed us and those who were on duty on September 27, at the check points, would be investigated,” he said.

TOO BUSY

A religious leader Sheikh Golicha asked security officials in the province to adopt an open-door policy to allow sharing of crucial security information.

“There are instances when we want to see the PC or the Provincial Police Officer, but they often claim they are too busy in meetings. We are discouraged,” he said.

During the meeting, residents were given telephone hotlines for reporting security threats.

Police have been targeted by suspected Al Shabbab militants in North Eastern Province. Two Administration Police officer were killed last week in an ambush by criminals.