Lobby group, politician support shoot-to-kill order

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa gave the shoot-to-kill order.

BY NGUMBAO KITHI

MOMBASA COUNTY: A Coast-based lobby and politician have supported proposals to shoot terrorists on sight arguing that it is the only way that can bring terrorism under control.

Pwani Ni Kenya group Chairman Alex Kasuku and politician Peterson Mittau said they support the order and also demanded the shut down of religious schools teaching extremism and radicalisation.

Mr Kasuku blamed existing laws for terrorism, saying there is need to accord security agencies and courts additional powers to combat terrorists. He added that there should be no mercy for armed killers who kill wantonly and indiscriminately.

“The country must look at some of the laws that can be changed for this country to deal with terrorists who have made Kenyans have sleepless nights,” he said.

He said Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa, who first suggested the shoot to kill policy, should be supported in order to demonstrate common support against terrorism. He said Mr Marwa was voicing the feelings and frustrations of most Kenyans when he issued the statement in the wake of the March 23, shooting of worshipers at a church in Likoni.

“Marwa must not be condemned, he is the voice of the common man. The only solution to deal with terrorists is kill them and stop the headache Kenya is facing at the moment,” he said.

He said lengthy and complex court cases enable terror suspects to evade justice and even commit other atrocities when they get bail or escape from police custody.

Kasuku on the other hand demanded the ban of all religious schools where children were taught hate-filled ideologies saying the institutions pose a threat to the security of the country.

“The Government from now on must stop religious schools that teach extremism and other issues that pose a threat to the country’s security. It does not matter who the schools belong to,” he said.

He said the fight against terrorism in Kenya is against Al-Shabaab supporters and not Muslims or Somalis.

“This war is against the enemies of this country and has nothing to do with religion, people who support their religion are free but we must deal with criminals,” he said.