By BRUHAN MAKONG
Tuesday February 7, 2023
Nairobi, Kenya, Feb 7 – Security agencies have stepped up border surveillance to prevent Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab from gaining access into the country as the Somali forces intensify its offensive against the Al-Qaeda linked terror outfit.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure said Monday that the current crack down on Al-Shabaab terror cells in Somalia which is spearheaded by local community leaders with the support of the Federal Government of Somalia has significantly weakened this militant group.
The Interior CS stated that they have stepped up our border patrols to prevent the proliferation of illicit arms, illicit drugs.
“Our security agencies are alert to ensure that these militants do not cross into our territory to keep them at bay now that this terror group is its weakest,” he said.
Kindiki said that security agencies have improved on intelligence gathering to stay several steps ahead of the terrorists.
“We are always aware that terrorists only need one lucky break to hurt our Country and inflict us with pain. We must always strike first and fast to neutralise them and obliterate their nefarious networks,” he said.
He pointed out that security agencies have disrupted many terror plots at source, neutralized and/or arrested dozens of suspected terrorists, and destroyed a huge cache of weapons and explosives that he says could have badly harmed citizens if they were not intercepted.
He added that in the last 100 days, crime in the Country has decreased by 13.5 per cent , from 8,297 to 7,179 incidents.
“Urban crime, especially the Nairobi muggings that had threatened to disrupt life and businesses in our capital city in the September/October season, has now been contained,” he said.Kindiki stated that the nearly 6,000 new police officers who have joined the National Police Service in the last 100 days guarantee’s the country sustainability of the fight against crime.
He stated that the new officers will be deployed to security hotspots across the Country immediately to further buttress the security of citizens.