Matiang’i meets Mandera leaders over insecurity, closed quarries

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i (pictured) has met Mandera leaders over increased terror threats.

Dr Matiang’i talked of the pain and shame Kenya suffers when taxpayers are attacked and killed by terrorists. “But we are having elaborate security strategies to counter the challenges head-on,” he said without elaborating.

Matiang’i challenged the leaders to question why neighbouring Ethiopia was peaceful and free from terror attacks yet terrorist roam free in Kenya.

The CS announced that a structured opening of quarries would be done using a zoned and phased approach.

“We cannot kill the economy of Mandera which should be three times or more what it is today,” Matiang’i said.

He said terror had no ethnic tag and should be fought jointly by local communities and security agencies.

Mandera Governor Ali Roba, Senator Mahmud Mohammed, six MPs and lawyer Abdikadir Mohammed attended the meeting.

They expressed concern over the closure of the Kenya-Somalia border arguing it had slowed the local economy. The border was closed in 2014.

They claimed the move had denied both the country an estimated Sh3 billion in annual revenue.

The MPs said Al Shabaab terrorist were now sneaking into Kenya and planting landmines targeting security and Government officials.

“We made good progress and hopefully there will be a very positive announcement from the National Government in due course. The increasing insecurity incidents in Mandera are alarming and they are hampering development,” said Mr Roba.