Let’s equip our security agencies as we fight terror

By Editorial

After the heat has died down following detonation of an explosive device at the Pangani Police Station last Wednesday, focus shift to how we prepare our police officers to handle terror threats. The Government has established the Kenya Anti-terror Police Unit, but with the complex and sophisticated operations of the al-Shabaab terror network in East Africa, the preparation of police officers on the beat to handle the terror threat must be reviewed.

Although investigations into the Pangani explosion are incomplete, initial observations suggest the two slain police officers did not exhibit enough caution when they arrested two suicide bombers who were able to trigger an explosive device when they were in police custody. 

By attacking a police station and killing two officers in an area at the heart of the police investigations, the terrorists have scored a major psychological blow, which must be countered by more deliberate and effective police action.  However, this is not the time to apportion blame and diminish the contribution of two gallant officers and their colleagues who put their lives at risk every day to protect Kenyans. It is the time to explore how best we can equip our security agencies to be better prepared to face the delicate and dangerous task ahead.

Kenya has declared war on terror and as President Uhuru Kenyatta recently pronounced, people who choose to pursue an ideology of death and destruction against innocent Kenyans will not be allowed to hold the country to ransom. To counter this threat, we must reassess our strategy in the war on terror and review the training of personnel who man key security installations and the entry points into the country.

This may involve developing a single database with information about those reasonably suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. The ability of front-line screening agencies to positively identify suspected terrorists must be improved, particularly those designed to stop criminals who try to obtain visas, enter the country, board aircrafts, or engage in other activity that will harm Kenyans.

For decades, Kenya has prided herself with having one of the best-trained security officers in the region. Yet we must acknowledge the quality of police training is under severe strain – this came out clearly when the commandants of the Kenya Police and Administration Police training colleges were vetted last year.  One senior officer told the vetting panel that the colleges were designed and commissioned in 1948 and with few barracks they could not effectively train officers because they could not handle huge number of recruits. These concerns are legitimate and must be addressed – including the departure of trained personnel from the service because of poor pay and work conditions.  We cannot compromise on security. Let’s equip those in the front line in the war against terror.