Don’t dare interrupt works in Lapsset project, Duale warns Shabaab

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Sunday warned the Al Shabaab militants against any intentions to disrupt the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport[ Lapsset] project.

The Lapsset Corridor programme is Eastern Africa’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project bringing together Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The project consists of seven key infrastructure projects starting with a new 32-berth port at Lamu (Kenya).

Speaking in Iftin ward, Garissa Township constituency during a funds drive for Madarastul Al-Hidaya on Saturday, a tough-talking Duale said the government will neutralise anyone hell-bent on destabilising the security of the country and its infrastructure.

"As a government, we will do everything possible to make sure that we protect the citizens and the critical infrastructure including the Lapsset corridor and all government installations from any criminal activities including terrorists. And if the militants think that we are joking or playing lip service let them dare us," he said.

“In fact starting next week we will deploy military officers to guard those doing work on the road. The president has said that this project must be completed. Even if it means having a thousand military officers to ensure that things run smoothly we will do it."

He called on local leaders in terror-prone counties to unite and speak with one voice and unequivocally denounce the militants and the terror networks in their areas.

The Defence CS further said that the government has recruited and deployed enough intelligence personnel in the region and urged residents to complement their efforts by sharing actionable intelligence.

The terrorists have been targeting individuals doing work on the project, something that has led the government to suspend construction works several times.

Early this year, workers on the project were told to suspend their services for six weeks to allow security agencies time to address the problem of insecurity.

This was after a series of attacks where several people were killed. Works, however, resumed later albeit at a slow pace.

Duale said that the government was working with the US to enhance security

Recently the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III in his tour of duty in the company of Duale visited the Kenya Navy Base in Manda, which equally hosts the US Forces.

Duale who has been crisscrossing terror-prone areas and holding meetings with both the local leadership and security personnel said all criminals and terrorists will be smoked out from their hideouts for residents to enjoy peace and go about their normal business without fearing for their lives.