The Most Reverend Zacchaeus Okoth, Chairman of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC), said the government’s argument that it had foiled many other terror threats was not acceptable/CFM
The Most Reverend Zacchaeus Okoth, Chairman of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC), said the government’s argument that it had foiled many other terror threats was not acceptable.
“Similar situations have been witnessed in Bungoma, Busia, Wajir, Mombasa and others. It seems our security agencies have failed to unearth and prevent a single attempt,” he stated.
Okoth questioned how Kenyans could be massacred for two nights running and for hours at a time without the police being aware and called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to take the necessary corrective steps and determine “who slept on the job.”
“It is up to the State to make up their minds if they have the right people or they don’t have the right people. The national government ought to re-organise and re-orient the national intelligences to focus more on collecting criminal intelligence as opposed to political intelligence,” he said.
A call that came hot on the heels of a Law Society of Kenya declaration that should Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo fail to resign within four days, the society would institute removal from office proceedings against them.
READ: LSK gives Lenku, Kimaiyo 14-day quit ultimatum
Okoth added that the standoff between the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and the Jubilee government over the national dialogue demanded by CORD was also raising political tension in the country and called for its speedy resolution.
“The rising tension between the government and the opposition is causing panic and anxiety to the general public. It is necessary for the government and the opposition to find other amicable ways and means to settle their differences,” Okoth stated.
That being said, the CJPC welcomed the idea of a national dialogue to help address the insecurity and corruption bedevilling the country but said the devil would be in the details.
“The Jubilee government should make efforts to reach out to the Opposition for the benefit of the country. After reaching out it should put in place committees on all national issues as a precursor to the national dialogue. These all-inclusive committees should visit some of the areas we have witnessed instances of rampant insecurity,” Okoth explained.
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