Kindiki says anti-terror unit set up to counter radicalization

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki when appeared before a Senate plenary session at parliament in Nairobi on October 11, 2023. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has said the government has set up an anti-terrorism police unit and a national counter-terrorism centre to fight radicalisation. Prof Kindiki has said that the government is using a multi-agency security team to deal with terrorism in the country. The CS, who appeared before the Senate plenary to answer questions, noted that the country has lost more than 500 people and over 4,000 injured in terror attacks since the 1998 bombing of the American embassy in Nairobi. The CS noted 213 people died during the American embassy attack while 67 people were killed during the Westgate Mall attack in 2014. Another 148 people were killed during the 2015 Garissa University attack in 2015 while 21 civilians and five suicide bombers died during the Dusit attack in 2019. "The government has put every measure in place to ensure terror attacks witnessed in the country in the past don't happen again going forward. That is why we are engaging both the National Police Service and Kenya Defence Forces to ensure we deal with any terror threat," he said. Benevolent fund Kindiki said the government is also working to establish a benevolent fund for the families of officers who die in the line of duty. The fund, he said, should be up and running by the end of this year. Prof Kindiki promised that the families of the slain officers will also access scholarships and other benefits that will enable them to carry on with their lives. He told the Senate that 58 police officers have lost their lives in dangerous operations across the country in the past year. The CS said the government compensation package for an officer who dies in the line of duty is a one-off payment equivalent to eight years of gross salary. He revealed that the government is considering the proposal to recruit police officers from the National Police Reservist who have played a crucial role in specialized security operations across the country. National Police Reservist officers performing a drill during their graduation at Kimalel in Baringo County on May 18, 2023, a ceremony that was presided over by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] "While the government will increase supervision and hold accountable the performance of National Police Reservists across the country, we are seriously considering the proposal to have some of them employed as police officers since they have played a role in security operations in their respective areas," he said. Kindiki said that 460 National Police Reservist officers had been recruited, trained and deployed in Samburu County since November last year while 205 others have been recruited in West Pokot, in Baringo they have recruited 200 officers and Elgeyo Marakwet 153 officers. The CS noted that in Turkana County they have recruited and trained 140 police reservists with 500 others awaiting vetting while in Marsabit the recruitment of police reservists has been delayed due to the migration of non-residents to the county in search of pasture and water. Lasting solution He said that they will be meeting leaders from Kericho and Kisumu counties in the next two weeks to seek a lasting solution to the perennial Sondu border conflict that has led to the loss of lives and property. Kindiki revealed that he will be spending more time in North Eastern and Lamu areas in the next few weeks to ensure that the security situation is fixed and promised to publish the names of suspected planners and financiers of the Lamu conflict. The CS assured the Senate that the recruitment of chiefs and their assistants where they are needed across the country will be done in 90 days after interviews are done in respective areas so as to ensure that citizens access government services. enyarangi@standardmedia.co.ke

Kindiki says anti-terror unit set up to counter radicalization

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