Monday’s attack in Mandera that left three people dead and 13 others injured is an indication that terrorism could be slowly finding its way back into the region that has had relative peace in the past few years, a leader in the region has said.
Two of the deceased were police officers attached to Mandera traffic department while the third victim was the owner of a food kiosk.
Livestock Marketing Council chairman Dubat Amey now wants North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno to convene an urgent leaders meeting to chart ways to end terrorism in the area.
Amey said that it was time for the elected leaders from the region to come together and rally the residents on the need for them to work with security agencies by pointing out bad elements in their midst involving themselves in terror activities.
The chairman, who condoled the families of the deceased, said that terrorism is slowly returning and "the leaders must take the lead in working with the government security agencies together with their people in the fight against terror".
“I want to urge our people from the region to stand up against terrorism. We must be counted among Kenyans fighting evil by supporting our government in matters security, or we shall remain behind in all sectors especially bettering the lives of our people,” Amey said.
“The government alone cannot fight terrorism. We have abdicated our responsibilities and it is time we woke up to the reality that we can easily lose the entire fight.”
Amey said the government has done its part by deploying adequate security officers including the military to fight terror but without the support of the citizens these efforts are fruitless.
“The security agencies require actionable intelligence from the citizens because terrorists mingle among the population. We have to rid ourselves of these terror operatives if we have to make our region safe,” he said.
Meanwhile, civilians wounded in the attack were on Wednesday airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
The decision to airlift the injured came after a public outcry in Mandera town, with residents demanding equitable support for all victims following allegations of discrimination.
The outcry stemmed from the airlifting of three injured police officers while leaving behind civilians with similar injuries at the Mandera referral hospital.
