The pastoralist community in Lamu has complained of being constantly and unfairly targeted by security agencies in the war on terrorism.
The community said they face constant harassment from security agencies who accuse them of either being terrorists or harbouring terrorists, a claim they say is outrageous and untrue.
The pastoralists, who mostly occupy Koreni, Mkunumbi, Pangani, Lumshi, Chalaluma, Witu and Boni forest in Lamu county, also accused security agencies of forcing them to produce illegal guns and weapons which the agencies believe are in their possession.
Speaking on Monday, the community’s spokesperson Muhumed Kalmei said they now live in constant fear from the unfair treatment they get from security agencies.
He said security officers, especially Kenya Defence Forces soldiers, have formed a habit of raiding their villages in the middle of the night and frisking households in search of non-existent terrorists and illegal weapons.
“They keep doing this and every time find nothing, yet the harassment keeps happening. We live in fear yet we are Kenyans like the rest of you," Kalmei said.
"We are not terrorists, we are just pastoralists who are minding our business. We want to be allowed to live normal lives.
“It’s normal for a Somali boy or man to carry a sword and a club when they go herding cattle in the forest. But security will arrest them and say they were armed. Does a club commit terrorism? This targeting needs to stop.”
He said the security apparatus in the region is focusing too much on the activities and movements of herders instead of finding the real culprits of terrorism.
“You would think our cows carry AK-47s because of the way they are frisked by security agencies. Can you imagine a cow being frisked for guns? It’s funny and frustrating at the same time,” the spokesperson said
Abdi Godane, a resident of Lumshi village, said as a result of the cold treatment from security officers, the community finds it hard to surrender any vital intelligence they might have on terrorism for fear of being targeted or victimised.
“There are times you see or hear something and you know it could be helpful if you told the security officers but you also know they will arrest you and turn you into a terrorist. So we would rather not,” he said.
In a quick rejoinder, Lamu county commissioner Irungu Macharia defended security officers, saying they always do their job to ensure Lamu and its people as well as the borders are safe.
Macharia said there is a process which new herders coming into Lamu from other counties are supposed to follow, including registering themselves at the relevant government offices.
He said many do not follow the procedure and have to be pursued by security officers who have to ensure they thoroughly registered.
The commissioner said all security operations conducted in the region are for the common good and shouldn’t be misconstrued to mean anything else.
He urged residents to cooperate with security officials during such exercises in order to ensure Lamu is safe for all.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
