We have a collective role to ensure a secure Kenya

“As president of the United States, I’m also somebody who deeply believes that part of the bedrock strength of this country is that it embraces people of many faiths and of no faith...While the United States is still predominantly Christian...we have Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, agnostics, Buddhists, and . . . their own path to grace is one that we have to revere and respect as much as our own.” - Barack Obama.

Once the guns fell silent, 17 teachers lay dead in Mandera County, alongside 11 others, whose only crime was that they were Christians. Next to them were shaken and traumatised fellow passengers who had witnessed cold-blooded executions, conducted ostensibly in the name of God.

The country was outraged – both Christian and Muslim alike; an intense blame-game ensued; threats and denials were made; the National Intelligence Service (NIS) came up for further scrutiny; and the faceless Al Shabaab gloated at the bloodletting their foot soldiers had wrought.

Police blamed their lethargic response on shortage of personnel and inferior equipment. Meanwhile, Al Shabaab recorded its 135th successful assault on Kenyan targets since the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) entered Somalia in October 2011.

As Kenyans villages mourn their dead, questions linger. At whose doorstep does the buck of runaway insecurity stop? What is being done to address the shortfall of boots on the ground to UN-recommended levels?

We know the Government has instituted major reforms in the security sector. Sh4 billion has been allocated for new security equipment while 17,000 new police officers were employed during the first year of the Jubilee Government. Sh1.6 billion has been put into the CID forensic lab while construction of 20,000 police houses has commenced in Ruai. Why then is this investment not paying off?

Is the budget sufficient to upgrade the arsenal of the police service? Is the delicate issue of motivation of the rank-and-file being prioritised? What efforts are being made to ensure recruitment is streamlined and corruption-free? Surely, Kenyans should not cry foul of the ineptitude of security agents when recruiting grounds have been compromised and the bar lowered so that only “paying customers” join the police ranks.

Is Al Shabaab becoming stronger or have they changed tack and left Kenyan security agents flat-footed? Have KDF’s scattered victories made Kenyans misconstrue Al Shabaab to be a disorganised, clueless rag-tag militia?

Have religious and political leaders downplayed the rise of Islamic extremism? Is there any credence to the refrain of systematic discrimination and marginalisation of Muslims? If so, what are the concerned authorities doing?

The Lamu assault mortally wounded the tourism industry at the Coast. The frequent attack on transporters is raising a fearful nation.

Mandera is the latest victim and true to profile, doctors and teachers unions are calling on a brain drain from the region. Why should we give in so meekly? Americans, for instance, hunt down killers of their citizens to all corners of the globe. There must be something to learn from this resolute action.

Constant anti-government rhetoric in the political echo chamber makes us miss one unstated fact: where are the voices of moderation and true Muslims to avoid the blanket profiling that is just waiting for one such unfortunate opportunity to be sprung?

Will the real Muslims stand up for their faith, clean up their places of worship so they do not become dens of jihadists intent on derailing our chosen way of life? Can they prove that theirs is religion of peace and way of life rather than an instrument of fear and intolerance?

We have a collective responsibility to remain secure as individuals and as a society. And like Obama says, only then shall we respect every person’s diversity, race, creed, culinary taste and “path to grace as much as our own”.