Saturday, September 13, 2014
KENYA:The new Director-General of the National Intelligence Service, Maj-Gen Philip Kameru, could not have picked a more interesting time to take over leadership of the intelligence community. Of all the matters in his in-tray, few are as urgent as the threat of terrorism and violent extremism.
The killing of Al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane in a US air strike in Somalia inevitably changes the dynamics of that conflict and its spillover effects across the region.
The group will want to avenge the death of their leader, while many Kenyans will be reflecting back on the terrorist attack on Westgate Mall a year ago. Of course, the intelligence and security agencies did not cover themselves in glory in the aftermath of Westgate.
The mismatched messages, from what caused the fire in the mall, to the number and identity of the attackers, not to mention the looting by rogue elements of the KDF, only added insult to injury.
The new spy chief will have to work hard to regain the confidence of Kenyans and, hopefully, the intelligence community can stay ahead of those that seek to harm them. It must provide the security agencies with tangible intelligence to detect and prevent terrorism.
Maj-Gen Kameru also inherits the problem in Somalia. A veteran of military intelligence, the new spy chief is no stranger to the conflict, but he now becomes a central player in charting the course of that war to try and bring about some form of sustainable political settlement in Mogadishu. This will require intelligence and courage, but it also demands diplomacy and cooperation with other agencies.
The new man has the academic qualifications and professional experience required for the job. His success will depend largely on his ability to motivate his charges, inspire his fellow citizens, and cooperate with our allies. It is a job with power, but it is also one with immense responsibilities. Dealing with the fallout from the Somali conflict will be one of many urgent matters.
To strike this delicate balance, Maj-Gen Kameru will have to hit the ground running, while keeping his ear to the ground. The country needs him to succeed.