The President's directive for 10,000 police recruits to be trained is an extraordinary measure to safeguard Kenyans from terrorists, Cord principal Raila Odinga has said.
A court nullified the July 14 corruption-marred police recruitment.
But on Thursday President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the immediate enrolment of the recruits after al Shabaab terrorists attacked Garissa University students killing 147, including security officers.
"Extraordinary situations calls for extraordinary measures. And that is exactly what the President and the Inspector General of Police have done," Raila said.
He welcomed the curfew imposed on four counties by IG Joseph Boinett.
Boinett imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Garissa, Mandera, Wajir and Tana River on Thursday, as an emergency measure.
The former Prime Minister said the curfew should, however, not be indefinite "to an extent that it hurts the economy of the local people”.
He was speaking yesterday at Kenyatta National Hospital, where he visited survivors of Thursday's attack.
About 79 people were injured in the attack.
“Just like the attack at Westgate, we need to come together as a nation and dialogue on how we can rescue our nation from al Shabaab,” Raila said.
He was accompanied with Senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Johnstone Muthama (Machakos).
"This is one of the most horrific and terrific single attack we have ever experienced as a nation. We must do all we can as a country to deal with these terrorists," Raila said.
He called on the international community to help Kenya fight al Shabaab.
