Lobby urges state to improve security in Coast

Human rights lobby group Haki Africa has accused security personnel of laxity that has led to the rise in cases of insecurity in the Coast.

The organisation officials told journalists on Thursday in Mombasa that they have noticed a rise in insecurity in almost all counties in the region where marauding criminal gangs are on the loose.

Haki Africa director Yusuf Abubakar said that it was alarming that in areas like Lamu and Tana River counties, terrorists have continued to cause havoc.

“Wananchi are living in fear not knowing about their safety as they continue to witness insecurity levels that hinder their social, economic and political wellbeing,” Abubakar said.

“This continued state of affairs cannot be tolerated any longer and there is a need for security organs to move with speed to arrest the situation.”

Abubakar said Haki Africa is disappointed with the direction that the country is going in terms of peace and security. He said from their analysis of the situation at the grassroots, the high cost of living is among the many factors forcing jobless youth into crime.

He said many young people in the region have been caught in the web of drugs and substance abuse, which leads to hopelessness and depression.

“We are asking the government to address the rise in the cost of living by providing alternatives in cushioning Kenyans from the harsh economic situation even if it means subsidising key commodities like fuel and basic food commodities,” he said.

The organisation also called for boosting of security operations in Lamu and Tana River counties to deal with al Shabaab decisively and ensure Kenyans are protected from terror attacks.

They also called for a crackdown on the use of drugs and the arrest of drug lords and peddlers as they also challenged the government to create job opportunities targeting the youth.

Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid challenged the government to beef up security in the region and create employment opportunities for the youth in the region.

He accused police in Lamu of laxity in their discharge of duty and asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure to stop his big talks and get to action by ensuring that police are performing their duties.

“However, in as much as we want the insecurity issues addressed, we don’t want to see incidences where human rights are violated by the same police. This should not be the reason to beat, kill and destroy property in the name of conducting security operations across the region,” Khalid said.

The CS on Wednesday announced the government was going to deploy special forces and elite units to neutralise threats of terrorism and violent extremism in northern Kenya and upper coastal regions including Lamu and Tana River.

He implored the special forces and elite units to pursue and neutralise the armed criminals terrorising innocent Kenyans.

Khalid, however, cautioned the police against using this to start terrorising residents, but instead asked them to work closely with the people who will play a vital role in providing information.

“We urge the CS to ensure he brings the community closer to security apparatus and not just issue threats while it is the same wananchi expected to provide information that will help with security operations,” he said.

Haki Africa rapid response officer Mathias Shipeta challenged the government to focus on improving security to boost investor confidence.

He opined that for long, the government has heavily invested money and resources to develop the country, forgetting to invest in ensuring that there is security to secure these investments.

“Investors will only come to Kenya based on the state of security that is at hand. We are calling upon the government to ensure that as it invests money or resources to the community, let them also focus on ensuring that the state of security is stable,” Shipeta said.