Transfer long-serving security officers, say Lamu leaders

Lamu leaders and residents want long-serving security officials in the county transferred to tame terror attacks.

Al Shabaab has killed six people and torched more than 10 houses in Salama, Widho and Juhudi villages of Lamu West subcounty in two weeks.

The most recent terror attack on Wednesday morning left a farm caretaker dead and five houses torched in Salama and Widho villages.

Speaking at a consultative meeting in Mokowe the same day, Lamu East MP Ruweida Obbo said some police officers have served for more than 10 years in places like Kiunga with no sign of getting transferred soon.

“This is wrong. When an officer stays for long, it becomes hard for them to fully engage in their duties while maintaining their code of conduct,” she said.

“And that’s what criminals like drug peddlers and others take advantage of to sneak into Lamu and destroy our people.”

The meeting was held at the Mokowe Kenya Forestry Research Institute and was organised by Search for Common Ground.

Present were MPs, MCAs, community-based and religious organisation officials.

They accused police, Kenya Defence Forces and other security units who have served in Lamu for many years of complacency.

Obbo said in her constituency, security officers have been posted and served in the area for between seven to 10 years without getting any transfer.

Lamu East constituency incorporates the terror-prone Boni forest as well as Kiunga, Ishakani, Sarira and Ras Kiamboni on the Kenya-Somalia border.

It is considered one of the hardship areas for a public servant and any other official to operate.

Obbo regretted that some security officers, be it police or KDF, and even local administrators, have found themselves posted to Lamu East on disciplinary grounds.

The legislator said such officers might not be willing to perform their duties but rather endure working in such places, knowing very well that they are only serving their punishments.

This jeopardises the security of the region, she said, calling for a stop.

The legislator said officers who have served in Lamu for more than five years should be transferred immediately.

“We want a trend where security agents, after serving in a place like Lamu for one year, get transferred. That will assist in curbing many issues, including drug peddling and others,” Obbo said.

Basuba MCA Barissa Deko urged the government to stop abandoning officers operating in certain regions of the country, especially Boni Forest.

“Officers working in places like Basuba, Milimani, Mangai, Mararani, Kiangwe and the rest have no specific offices,” Deko said.

“Officers there feel neglected. Something needs to be done. We need to see a frequent rotation of these officers. After serving for like six months, let them be released to other places to pave the way for new ones.”

Bwana Ali urged the government to prioritise security agencies working in Lamu on matters machinery.

“Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said the government will soon buy Sh20 billion security equipment,” Ali said.

“We want to see such equipment distributed to Lamu security agencies. Our officers in Lamu need to be properly equipped.”

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