State to spend Sh20bn on police equipment in war on terrorism

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has revealed that the government has set aside Sh20 billion for security operations to deal with the al Shabaab threat in the North Eastern region.

Speaking in Garissa town on Friday, Kindiki said for a long time, the region has been faced with various security challenges and it's time to bring them to an end. 

"We have had security challenges caused by an enemy from across the border who has caused loss of lives and property. I want to say, on behalf of the Kenyan government, that we will use all available means to ensure that we end this terrorism threat,” Kindiki said.

The CS was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow.

"The government has allocated Sh20 billion for state-of-the-art equipment for our security officers to ensure they have vehicles, choppers and body armor to protect themselves during operations. I want to say that the days of terrorism, killing of our security and government officers are over,” he added.

The CS said that there should be a standard security presence across the country such that no area should feel less secure.

"We want to make sure that the same sense of security in Kiambu or Mombasa should be the same feeling of security here in Garissa and other parts of the country,” he said.

Kindiki said militants have wrecked havoc in the country especially in the Northeastern region but assured that the government will use all means possible to ensure the threat posed by the militants is eliminated.

He further called on residents to work closely with security apparatus by providing timely and actionable information that can help in deterring would be threats.

"I therefore want to say that the days for terrorists harassing us, killing our security officers, government officers, that period is over. We want to concentrate on our internal issues because we have a number of them,” Kindiki said.

The CS took the opportunity to address the inter-border clashes that have happened in the past along the Garissa–Isiolo border.

He noted that he has convened a leaders' meeting next week to address the matter and bring a permanent solution.

Kindiki’s visit to Garissa comes at a time the government is working on opening the Kenya-Somalia border to ease trade between the two countries and tackle smuggling of contraband goods into Kenya.

Present were Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, MPs Abdikadir Hussein (Lagdera), Dekow Mohamed and Farah Malim (Dadaab).