Chiefs to be held responsible for not identifying terrorists, says CS Matiangi

Chiefs to be held responsible for not identifying terrorists, says CS Matiangi

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has announced that administrators will be held personally responsible for not identifying terrorist recruiters, radicalizers and operatives within their areas.

The CS spoke on Monday during a security meeting at the Government Guest House in Garissa County where he outlined the government’s plan to step up the war on contraband goods and smuggling as a strategy for countering terrorist financing.

He also said all chiefs and their understudies should operate within the areas of jurisdiction, failure to which they will be sacked within a two-week period.

Matiang’i announced that a multi-agency team will immediately launch a security operation and sustain surveillance along the borders to stop and deter the flow of illicit goods, services, and immigrants into the country.

He tasked the team with providing him with weekly updates for necessary action, further warning that severe disciplinary and legal action will be instituted against any government official found culpable of inefficiency or malperformance.

“Where we have challenges in our security framework in the war against contrabands, we will address them jointly. Meanwhile, any officer, either in the national or county government, found tolerating or abetting cross-border smuggling of counterfeits will be held personally accountable,” he said.

“This is not a trade. It is fueling the death of Kenyans. Those who engage in it are al-Shabaab’s foremost supporters and funders, and will be handled like the terrorists.”

He also stated: “Terrorists and their sympathizers have no place in Kenya. Once again, we will make no distinction between the two categories. Those who harbor terrorists will be treated with the same veracity we treat terrorists.”

Matiang’i further ordered for the immediate reactivation of the local peace committees and community outreach to complement the government’s security efforts.

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terrorism Garissa County CS Fred Matiang’i

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