Government strengthens security

The Kenyan government has sent out extra security personnel to maintain security along the country’s borders with its neighbours, as well as between the warring Pokot and Marakwet tribes in northwest Kenya. “But as a government, we cannot guarantee that there will be no attacks,” Minister of State in the Office of the President Marsden Madoka told IRIN. “We are committed to protecting lives and property,” he said. “We have reinforced our presence in these areas and are improving on our intelligence information flow.” He added that security was a complex issue “and we are doing the best we can within our resources”.

On 20 February, a group of raiders believed to be from west Pokot attacked a Turkana homestead killing 40 people. Last Wednesday, some 80 people were killed after heavily-armed raiders from the Merrile community in Ethiopia struck Turkana homesteads in Kokuro area near the Kenya-Ethiopia border. Kenyan news organisations blamed some of the attacks on the “ill-preparedness” of Kenyan security personnel, reporting incidents of security officers trekking for over 30 km to get to troublespots. “Although I am also longing for the day we will have adequate transport and communication equipment, it is important to note that security personnel need to trek because this is the surest way of getting the attackers,” Madoka said.

He added that the government was also beefing up security in Nairobi where crime rates are on the increase. Numerous shooting incidents have been reported recently. Currently, all Criminal Investigations Officers (CIDs) who were on leave have been recalled. Madoka decried the proliferation of small arms in the country and said this was possibly a major reason why such crimes were on the rise.