Friday, October 12, 2012
BY STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Government authorities in Garissa have approved a new resolution that criminalises failure to take preventive measures to prevent an al Shabaab militants attack.
Garissa county commissioner Maalim Mohammed said the move is one of the 21 resolutions reached during a leaders’ security meeting at the Garissa Government Guest House.
“We have had incidents where people are coming out after a terrorist attack and claiming they saw suspicious characters moments or even days before the attack. This will be categorised as aiding and abetting crime”, he said.
He said the communities have a crucial role to play in the fight against terror. “It is not the duty of the government alone to fight criminal elements. The terrorists leave among people and those who may know them have to be patriotic enough to prevent the killing of innocent civilians”, he said.
He said chiefs and their assistant have been directed to have a comprehensive register for all residents and visitors in their jurisdiction before October 15 in addition to holding regular public barazas educate the residents on security policies.
During the meeting leaders asked the government to work on genuine initiatives to engage youths in income generating activities to curb idleness. North Eastern Provincial Commissioner Ernest Munyi said that all lodges are required to register the customers by taking their personal details, purpose of visits and duration of their stay before admitting them.