Change tack in fight against terrorism

The Government now has a perfect opportunity to overhaul the security system to combat terrorism and emerging forms of crime.

With the exit of Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, the Jubilee government should enact reforms in the entire security apparatus. There have been numerous calls to reform the Kenya Police Service, which has been accused of lethargy and uncoordinated response to security threats, including terrorism.

We acknowledge that terrorism is a global challenge and an insurgency. Terror is therefore no longer a police issue, but a national challenge. It calls for formation of a national command and coordination centre for rapid and effective response. Currently, everybody including the army, Kenya Police, Administration Police (AP), General Service Unit (GSU) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) are acting independently and will inevitably issue conflicting instructions during terror acts.

Our response, according to security experts has been reactive and very little has been done to prevent terror attacks. Mandera Governor, whose county has lost 64 Kenyans in recent attacks conducted by Al Shabaab has said the fatal raids could have been averted had security agents acted promptly on intelligence provided. It is disheartening to hear that there was possible lethargy or inaction from the security agencies to respond.

There have also been reports of no accountability at the county levels since the regular police, the Administration Police and the CID all work in parallels since there is no one person in charge. To ensure harmony in police activities, there is need for a clear command structure right from the national to the ward level.

To combat terror, ordinary Kenyans also need to be incorporated into policing. A deliberate effort to involve residents of hotspots should be made to help flash out terror agents because they live among us. Community policing and the Nyumba Kumi initiatives should be expanded and given more impetus at this period in time.

Those who wish to harm Kenyans are riding on obvious weaknesses in the security system and the indifference nature among citizens. Kenyans should understand that terrorists seek to make countries ungovernable through having citizens rising up against their government. For instance, when civil servants including teachers, doctors and nurses move out of hotspots, the residents will then become an easy target for terror agents. This should never be allowed to happen.

Still, our security system is organised in such a way that it is more likely to serve the Executive and the Judiciary than the ordinary citizen. This creates discontent among citizens who therefore find no plausible reason to cooperate with the police. The new police boss should make deliberate efforts to endear police officers to ordinary Kenyans. He or she should make Kenyans understand that the police are there to protect them and their property. They mean no harm, hence there is no need for adversarial relationship. Indeed, children should be taught that a police officer is the safest person to seek help from at any place or situation.

On the other hand, the new police boss should urgently get rid of rogue elements in the police service. The police have featured prominently in bribery reports for many years and this is the time to turn a new leaf. There are also claims of corruption in police departments, which the new IG and Internal Security Cabinet Secretary must confront without fear or favour.

Irregular award of police tenders has been cited as a huge challenge in combating insecurity. The new IG and the minister should break these nefarious cartels, which have for years curtailed real reforms in the police service.

The Government should also significantly increase funds to the security sector in light of terror threats. The police have complained of inferior weapons and lack of adequate equipment to combat terrorists. This is the time to change this. It can never be business as usual on security matters.