Somalia separation wall too costly for Kenya but will not deter terrorists, CORD claims

CORD co-principal Moses Wetangula (second right) addresses the press on the move by the Government to build a wall along the Kenya -Somalia boarder and the closure of Dadaab Camp. [PHOTO: KELVIN KARANI/STANDARD]

MOMBASA: Cord leaders Monday criticised the government's plan to construct a perimeter wall along the border with Somalia saying the strategy cannot deter terror attacks in the country.

The leaders claimed that some of the "helter skelter security strategies" the Jubilee administration had resorted to since the April 2 terror attack in Garissa University College were too costly and have been tried in other countries but failed to achieve its goals.

The leaders accused the Jubilee administration for using terror as an excuse for unrestricted spending on costly projects like the construction of a perimeter wall along the Somali boarder without Parliament's approval.

Over 11 Cord leaders led by Senator Moses Wetangula questioned the wisdom behind the construction of a wall along the country's boarder with Somali saying the strategy has been tested elsewhere in other countries and has not worked.

But Senator Kiraitu Murungi defended the government and faulted the opposition for not offering alternative solutions to the problem of insecurity.

"Insecurity is a national problem and the opposition should offer constructive criticism. But not opposing everything the government is doing for the sake of it," said Murugi.

"This country needs direction. It is a shame that this government did not even see the need to hold a national requiem mass for the 147 students killed in Garissa. This was the third largest number of students to be killed by terrorists in the world," said Wetangula.

Wetangula said that the government has failed the bereaved families of the Garissa terror attack and should not ride on the incidents as an excuse to go on a spending spree on strategies that have been tried and failed elsewhere in the world.

The CORD leaders, who were speaking at Leisure Lodge Hotel in Mombasa where they are attending the Senators and County Assembly Speakers' Workshop, called on the government to tell Kenyans how much the wall will cost, where the money to be spent would come from and whether the project had been tendered.

"Israel built a wall to separate its territory with Palestine, United States of America has a wall to deter Mexican illegal immigrants and all these walls have not achieved its intended goals," said Wetangula in Mombasa.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery says that wall will reduce border entries especially by the Al-Shabaab militants who have continued to attack the country.

Other than the wall, Deputy President William Ruto has also asked the United Nations to close the Dadaab refugee camp and relocate more than 500,000 Somalis hosted in the camp.

Ruto reportedly gave UNHCR three months to close the 24-year-old camp failure to which  the government will be forced to start to relocate the refugees.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar said that the directive was illegal and goes against the Constitution and the country's international obligation.

"What we are saying is that the said terrorists who attacked Garissa University College did not come from the camps. They were Kenyans and that is why we say that this administration does not believe in the rule of law. The president's directive that the police recruits whose recruitment was nullified should report to Kiganjo training tells you that even the president does not believe in the rule of law," said Omar.

On the other hand, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru has also indicated that students who qualify to universities and colleges will be required to join the National Youth Service first to gain paramilitary training.

Wetangula said that such a directive should come from the president and must have parliament's approval.