Shutting eye to the seeds of insecurity bodes ill

By Billow Kerrow

There is no denying the unfortunate belief among many Kenyans and foreigners alike that our country’s future stability is more uncertain today than at any other time in the past.

From a political, economic and social perspective, there is an eerie feeling that come 2012 this great nation may explode as it did last year.

Regrettably, nothing that our leaders are doing is helping in disabusing our minds of this fear. In fact, the more they talk at us, the more they restate the fear.

In recent days, concerns have been expressed loudly that there is an arms race going on in Rift Valley between two major communities.

For months, this matter was whispered quietly in social joints and office chats.

However, it has now been aired by most international news agencies, brought before Annan and carried by our own media.

As usual, Government leaders have rubbished the reports, without as much as telling Kenyans that they will first investigate.

Sadly though, this has become a ‘business’ ethic of our Government. In 2008, Government denied extra-judicial killings of hundreds of youth until the UN Special Rapporteur spilled the beans in Geneva.

It also denied the post-election violence was planned and financed, until the Waki Commission revealed otherwise. At the height of Somali piracy, Government also denied sophisticated arms on board the hijacked Ukrainian ship were en route to South Sudan. It is now widely believed those T-72 tanks have crossed the borders.

Arms race

In North Eastern Province, credible reports in the media have warned that Government officials are recruiting our youths in various parts of the province to be sent to Somalia to fight alongside the Somalia Government soldiers.

It is reported that Kenya Army officers carry out this exercise, and the youth transported in army lorries. Yet again, this widespread story by some leaders from the region has been denied by the Government.

The potential arms race in Rift Valley is an obvious reality that can be deduced from the tense relationship between the two communities.

We are not oblivious of the body language of the leaders from the region when they boycotted the Eldoret anniversary, threats over Mau evictions, threats of repercussions over Hague action, apparent disquiet over perceived inequality in settlement of IDPs, etc.

In such situations where potential for a repeat political showdown is imminent, communities prepare themselves for a likely conflict. It does not require a genius to realise that is a logical outcome of these fears.

Little has changed

The implications of the Somali youth recruitment by Government, however, has more serious consequences for our security than the Rift Valley situation.

By our action, we are directly becoming combatants in the Somali war and exposing our country to retaliatory action by various forces in that country.

The involvement in another nation’s war is an expensive pastime that even military and economic super powers have realised.

The implications and consequences of the above situations are obvious to the country’s security forces. It would not help to come before a commission in future to feign ignorance of today’s threats.

The culture of rent-seeking, impunity and denials by the Government reveals little has changed in the way we do business. It is not surprising in recent international rankings we fared badly in governance and investment destinations.

From the revelations before the Waki and Kriegler commissions last year, we all know that our intelligence services know exactly the truth regarding the above matters.

As is their tradition, they will have reported quietly to the Executive. Why then is the Government in denial? Is it suggesting that the intelligence services have disproved the above allegations?

The practice in developed countries is that intelligence on matters that have major consequences on national security is shared with the legislature through the relevant departmental committee.

Perhaps, it is time the House committee on Security summons intelligence chief for a briefing on this matter. It will not help if he does so to the nation after the event as he sadly did last year.

The writer is a former MP.