Sheikh al Faisal entry was a major security lapse

Ndung’u Wainaina

The Jamaica-born cleric Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal saga has embarrassingly exposed the coalition government’s business-as-usual attitude. Four shocking things are clear: systemic intelligence and security failure, deployment of ethno-religious fear and division as the stock-in–trade of control, devastating effects of entrenched prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination and cost of pervasive corruption to state stability and security.

The Al-Faisal case is a serious test on the shaky nature of the security system in the East African region. The arguments advanced against the radical preacher in relation to terrorism raises more questions than answers on the possibility of such uncontrolled and undetected entries.

Unbelievable failure

It also raises serious concerns on the ability and competence of the region’s Intelligence services in gathering, analysing and sharing intelligence information with the relevant bodies. This unbelievable failure to detect and prevent crime is unacceptable and raises questions as to how security take full advantage of the information collected.

Four people owe Kenyans an unequivocal explanation and apology: Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti, his Immigration counterpart Otieno Kajwang and two security chiefs: Criminal Investigation Department Director Karanja Gitobu and National Security Intelligence Service Director-General Brigadier Michael Gichangi.

Does it mean gentlemen (no woman) you did not have any prior information about Al-Faisal? If not, what are you doing with Sh6 billion budget? Were you approached by any agency before the arrival of Al-Faisal in Kenya? What value do Kenyans get for intelligence gathering and sharing with the wider intelligence community?

The sideshows by the Internal Security and Immigration ministries cast aspersions on the efficiency and effectiveness of border entry controls. It is only Saitoti and Kajwang to bite the bullet for negligence and jeopardising Kenyans’ security. With the East African Co-operation advancement need for more serious harmony in human security in the region becomes vital as opposed to reactionary antics as is the case with the cleric episodes. I remind Kenyan and regional governments that human security to their citizenry remains their major duty and priority.

Kenyans should be counting their luck this time that foreign intelligence services came to their rescue before the worst happened. God forbid, suppose Al-Faisal was one of those bomb detonators? The President must clean the intelligence house.

However, for now he has chosen not to seek accountability from his intelligence agencies, Internal Security and Immigration ministers on how somebody known the world over succeeded to enter Kenya and have his passport stamped with entry visa.

The cleric’s entry was a major intelligence and security failure. The National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) has a huge budget and in fact the largest funded foreign intelligence division. Al-Faisal is not just another discreet citizen from Jamaica. Global records and even Government officials fully indicate he is a well-known person unless they have just discovered now. Several questions arise therefore: Where was the NSIS and their sister National Anti-Terrorism Unit and Criminal Investigations Department? What did they know about Al-Faisal? Did they know he was in Kenya? And why did they not act early enough to preempt a danger?

These institutions must be completely overhauled and restructured. Kenyans want intelligence based security not wishy-washy unsatisfactory excuses.

porous borders

How did this Jamaica citizen in the first place get into Kenya? How can Kajwang and Saitoti cause such a serious security lapse, jeopardising national security and be allowed to turn around to cover their failure?

These ministers’ reactionary response came only after the horse has bolted. Starting to raise emotions and engaging in collective condemnation of the Muslim community is being escapist and superficial. Muslims, like Christians, have rights to be protected not as Muslims but as Kenyans.

The writer is Executive Director International Centre for Policy & Conflict