Help us stop Shabaab, security chiefs urge clerics

Regional commissioner John Otieno said apart from having a huge following, the clerics' word carries a lot of weight in society.

He was addressing Muslim and Christian clerics from eight subcounties in Garissa county. 

In the past two weeks, Garissa has suffered a couple of roadside bomb attacks targeting security personnel vehicles.

The attacks have paralysed government projects, notably Lapsset.

On February 14, three police officers from the Border Patrol Unit were killed at Hagarbur on the Garissa-Dadaab road when they drove over an improvised explosive device.

Last Friday, two police officers travelling in a police Land Cruiser headed to Garissa were killed and three others injured around the same area.

Otieno, who was accompanied by his regional and county security committee, warned that the attacks are threatening to stall development projects. 

 “The role played by you, clerics, in our country cannot be overemphasised. You are always in touch with the masses and your word is taken seriously. That is why the government is [counting] on you to pass the message of peace to the people,” he said.

“Peace, security and development go hand in hand. Without it then all the basic services, among them education, infrastructure development, and health, will come to a halt.”

Supkem chairman Abdullahi Salat blamed the attacks on the influx of pastoralists seeking water and pasture and urged residents to remain alert.

“We have witnessed an upsurge of people coming to our county in search of pasture and water for the livestock. In this group it is easy for criminal elements to mingle with them and carry out malicious acts,” he said.

Otieno warned that the government will not allow the militants to disrupt law and order.

Salat said the clerics will preach peace to worshippers and encourage them to volunteer information on suspects to security agents.

“We urge our people that in the event there are some who are not comfortable with sharing information with security agencies for one reason or another, then they should pass the same to us the clerics,” he said.

Residents fear that some rogue officers would leak confidential information on criminals who would then target them in retaliation.

Reverend John Mwaura urged security agents to work closely with each and every individual, and not just religious leaders.

“Going forward, let us be honest with each other and back our words with action. Let us mean what we say at all times. If it is to volunteer information, then let us do so in real-time so that action can be taken before it is too late. These are some of the things we need to tell our congregation,” he said.

Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya