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Senators now want dialogue with Governors on insecurity

The Motion which was proposed by Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetangula comes in the wake of weekend attacks in Moyale and Wajir Counties as well as fresh attacks in Witu area near Mpeketoni/FILE

The Motion which was proposed by Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetangula comes in the wake of weekend attacks in Moyale and Wajir Counties as well as fresh attacks in Witu area near Mpeketoni/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 24 – The Senate adjourned normal business on Tuesday afternoon to allow lawmakers debate the deteriorating security situation in the country.

The Motion which was proposed by Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetangula comes in the wake of weekend attacks in Moyale and Wajir Counties as well as fresh attacks in Witu area near Mpeketoni.

The Bungoma Senator called for a forum between Governors and Senators where they can chart the way forward on security and other matters affecting operations within their counties.

The Minority Leader said lives of citizens should be protected by all means and urged leaders to preach peace at all times as Kenyans looked upon them to remain united.

Nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro and Tana River Senator Ali Abdi called for the prosecution of those found culpable of inciting or planning the attacks.

“Through the intelligence and data we have gathered, we are told these are the people who were involved in the Mpeketoni killings, these are the financiers; these are their spanner boys, this was their mandate… but all we do as leaders is political blame game,” Ongoro told the House.

“Can’t we just for once, arrest and prosecute just one person so that it can serve as a deterrent to any other leaders who may incite violence on Kenyans.”

Senator Abdi caused laughter in the Senate when he mimicked members of the regular police on patrol.

“We need to hire special police officers, not the ones who ask unaenda wapi… unatoka wapi? (where are you going… where are you from?). These special officers will have the sole mandate of ensuring the security of their respective counties,” said the Tana River Senator.

Migori County Senator Wilfred Machage said those in government should look to address the increasing lack of patriotism among a section Kenyans instead of engaging in what he termed knee-jerk reactions aimed at countering the attacks.

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Machage opined that increasing poverty and inequity in the distribution of national resources such as infrastructure in parts of the countries have allowed some communities to engage in acts of cattle rustling and other crimes, with the confidence that the government does not have avenues to catch up with them.

“When you have a headache, you do not hit your ahead against the wall, instead you should try and figure out what could be wrong in your body. Sometimes it can be that you have high blood pressure or it’s just a virus,” Machage said.

“Unfortunately our colleagues in government think that deploying security forces to an area that has experienced attacks is the solution, unfortunately it is not.”

Other Senators Omar Hassan (Mombasa County), Liza Chelule (Nominated), Godana Harguara (Marsabit County) called for an overhaul of security agencies such as the National Intelligence Service which they felt had failed to sufficiently prevent the attacks.

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