From hobby in security, firm boss now trains counter-terrorism

On The Mark security firm Director Solomon Kimeu, gives a briefing for the incident Commander marshals before a security drill at Kenyatta University. [David Njaaga/Standard]

When Solomon Kimeu shared his views on the need to train civilian Kenyans on counter-terrorism, many dismissed him.

And what a dreamer he was; he went ahead and registered a security firm that remained passive for years as friends ignored his ideals and surrendered their protection to the state.

But in the wake of terror activities sponsored by Al-Shabaab militants that have claimed many lives in Kenya and shattered dreams of several others, the current director of On the Mark Security firm, has had a busy schedule. “I thought the 1998 bomb blast at the US embassy in Nairobi where over 200 people died would trigger the conscience of Kenyans. It didn’t. They said it was just bad luck and ignored my plea for skills on counter terrorism,” said Kimeu.

Despite heavy training in Israel, Philippines, South Africa and the United States, most of his services remained untapped until when Kenya was shaken to the bone by terror attacks. “Many Kenyans realised that first respondents during a terror attack are ordinary people. In the Westgate incident, it was shoppers and they were not prepared, not even on the basic first aid,” noted Kimeu.

After Westgate, many mall owners and companies realised the need to empower their staff and security personnel by training them on counter terrorism. Therefore, with his six teams of trainers, he embarked on a mission to change the mindset of Kenyans.

“We failed in the past; we did not empower first respondents. All persons should be trained at least on first aid so that we reduce casualties. Many people die because of bleeding, people need to learn how to stop bleeding before professional help arrives,” he said.

Kimeu said terrorists have mastered techniques that can get the country by surprise unless “we advance our preparedness, especially by countering militants’ planning stage”.

“Terrorists are patient. They take their time and attack when they are prepared and settled,” he observed.

He says for Kenya to counter terror efficiently, it must study the enemy and how it operates, adding that the approach was not just a preserve of security personnel. “The best time is to get them at planning stage. If we train people on the cycle of terrorism, they will spot suspects and even report before it progresses to the next level,” Kimeu advised.

“We must shift and make all citizens prepared so that we deny the enemy the opportunity to win. When it comes to security, you cannot afford excuse and you must do it right,” he said.

Kimeu argued that militants have a clear mission and plan. They work towards converging everything to their advantage. They know what the local and international media needs and how they can use the same to cause havoc.

“The media should also be trained on reporting such incidences. You cannot have TV broadcasting the happenings in real time. They will be watching and they will prepare to counter,” said Kimeu.

He cited the recent attack at dusitD2 Hotel along Riverside Drive where he faulted the media for real time coverage.

“The TVs were showing the arrival of Recce squad and every move the security officers were making. What does that mean? The militants prepared because they were probably following the coverage like other audiences. Media is giving Intel to the enemy when it broadcasts live,” Kimeu explained.