President Kenyatta Wednesday told
Kenyans to stop blaming his
government alone for rising
insecurity and play their role in
securing the country.
He was appearing in public for the
first since returning from a four-
day visit to the Middle East. While
he was away, 28 people, mainly
teachers, were executed by Al-
Shabaab, the Somali militant
group, in Mandera County.
“No matter how much we do,
there will never be one policeman
for everyone, and unless we work
together with the security forces,
the responsibility lies on me and
you,” a tough talking President
told a gathering at the University
of Nairobi grounds where he
launched the “HeForShe” campaign
on gender equality.
The launch also marked the start
of the annual 16 days of activities
to speak out against gender
violence, which is a global
campaign.
Mr Kenyatta’s government has
been criticised by Parliament, the
Opposition and the public in
general over its handling of
security.
Frequent attacks by Al Shabaab
and an increasingly violent
insurgency by its radical
supporters, especially at the Coast,
has all but shut down Kenyan
beach tourism.
The President’s absence during the
Saturday attack and his decision
not to cut short his visit have been
particularly unpopular.
State House said Mr Kenyatta held
bilateral talks with King Abdullah
of Jordan on terrorism in Abu
Dhabi. Apparently, according to the
statement published on Facebook,
Jordan is “a leading player in
efforts to secure peace in the
Middle East” and has expertise in
dealing with “emerging terrorism
threats”.
The President also held talks with
Sheikh Makhtoum, the ruler of
Dubai among others.
The big event in the UAE at the
weekend was the 2014 F1 Grand
Prix in Abu Dhabi, attended by
wealthy motorsport enthusiasts,
mainly from the Middle East,
Eastern Europe and Africa.
Also launched yesterday was a
policy manual on how to prevent
and respond to gender violence.
The President was accompanied by
First Lady Margaret to the event
also attended by Planning and
Devolution Cabinet secretary Anne
Waiguru and MP Cecily Mbarire,
who is the chairperson of Kenyan
Women Parliamentary Association
among others.
Earlier, the President met the
security chiefs at State House.
COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
He said while out of the country
he followed the public’s comments
on social media. The comments
have not been flattering with
many demanding that he takes
responsibility for escalating
insecurity.
Leaders have also been demanding
the sacking of the President’s
security aides, especially Interior
Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku
and the Inspector General of
Police, Mr David Kimaiyo.
There was some level of
expectation that on his return, the
President would signal some firm
new direction to reassure the
country in view of demands by
civil servants to be evacuated from
Mandera.
Apart from frequent terrorist
attacks and the clashes at the
Coast, a general sense of insecurity
has persisted since September last
year when Al Shabaab killed 67
shoppers at the Westgate Mall in
Nairobi.
“I agree that our security must do
more to protect people and as a
government we have worked to
ensure we equip them well and
provide them with vehicles. We
have also looked at their welfare
and we shall do more to ensure
that there is enough security for
our citizens,” Mr Kenyatta said.
He cited several incidents during
which people have watched others
commit a crime yet they did
nothing to prevent the attacks.
One of these incidents was the
stripping of a woman in the streets
of Nairobi by touts, which
provoked outrage and a street
protest by women.
“People watched and did nothing.
Others were taking videos of what
was happening. What did they do
to help the lady? What is your
responsibility as citizens?” he
asked.
He also accused some people of
using their places of worship to
incite their faithful against people
who do not profess their religion.
“I addressed an open meeting and
leaders were asking me to forgive
the raiders since they had
mistaken the police for Turkana
raiders,” he said and wondered:
“To them it is right to kill a
Turkana!
“These leaders are the first to
blame the Government and they
say such things in front of me.”
In an apparent reference to the
Mandera attack, he warned that
action will taken against police
officers found culpable for security
lapses.
“We have worked to ensure we
equip you and look after your
welfare and provide you with
vehicles, so you should also provide
security for the citizens,” he said.
