Interior Secretary Joseph ole Lenku talks tough on illegal gangs, pledges to end clashes

Interior Secretary Joseph ole Lenku.

By Ngumbao Kithi and Lydia Nyawira

MOMBASA, KENYA: The Government will implement a strategy to stamp out organised crime perpetrated by illegal groups to end insecurity, Interior Secretary Joseph ole Lenku has said.

“In three weeks, we are going to come out with the new model to deal with the illegal groups, they must stop existing or face the full force of the police,” he said.

He spoke at a dinner party hosted by the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers at the Sarova Whitesands during the 11th annual tourism symposium, which ended yesterday. He assured that the Government would directly support the hospitality industry to ensure it takes a lead role in the region.

“We must ensure the hospitality industry is given the right priority and get us the best tourists in Kenya,” he said, adding that the Government has come up with a comprehensive plan to make Mombasa the port of choice for Africa.

Mr Lenku warned that there were Kenyans being used by some countries to cause problems.

“We must know that politics ended after the General Election and any one who is still into the issues of politics must be told to shut up,” he said.

Intelligence

The Cabinet Secretary said security for all Kenyans in any part of the country was his top priority.

“We will have our people on the ground in every village, every city, every town and we will be present right to the slums to ensure that criminal gangs have nowhere to hide or operate,” he said.

Lenku said the only way to guarantee Kenya tourist arrivals and achieve the 3 million annual target by 2017 was to ensure security prevails. The Cabinet Secretary added that Government would intensify intelligence gathering and nip in the bud any criminal activities.

He said tourism police numbers would be boosted and officers provided with better equipment to secure hotels.

Technology, he noted, will play a critical role in monitoring and apprehending criminals including those engaged in cybercrime and along and porous Kenya –Somali border and Coastline.

Lenku promised to initiate long-term measures to end clan conflicts in Mandera and cattle rustling menace that has continued to occasion unnecessary loss of lives. (see separate story P20)

“For us to achieve double digit economic growth, and implement a 24 hour working environment in our cities we have to improve our security arrangements and this is going to be my daily preoccupation,” he said.

Elsewhere, students from Kagumo Teachers College barricaded the Nyeri- Karatina highway to protest the killing of their colleague.

The body of the second year student was found yesterday morning dumped on the road. Students disrupted transport along the busy highway for hours forcing motorists to use alternative routes.

The student’s union Chairman Reuben Cheruiyot said the body of Julius Kimani, was found dumped on the road.

The students called on police to investigate the circumstances under which he was killed and apprehend the culprits.

“We believe Kimani was killed elsewhere and his body dumped on the road where it was run over by a motorist,” Cheruiyot said.