Garissa leaders welcome Kindiki's stance on forced disappearances

Leaders from Northeastern on Tuesday welcomed Interior CS Kithure Kindiki's pronouncement that the government was determined to bring to an cases of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearance.

On Monday, CS  reiterated that the government will not condone  extrajudicial killings or related processes that are likely to harm its citizens in the fight against terrorism in the country.

Kindiki said it was in the Kenya Kwanza’s manifesto to bring an end to extrajudicial killings in the country, where people have allegedly been arrested by police and disappear without trace.

He said he had talked to the security officials to fight terror within the confines of the law.

Speaking on Tuesday, the leaders led by Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed and ODM nominated MP Umulkheir Harun, said once that is done, then the fight against terror will become easier.

MP Dekow said for a long time, the issue of terror has been used to harass and terrorise residents, adding that the statement by the CS both in Parliament and in Garissa was highly welcomed.

"I hope going forward we will not hear of people being abducted and disappearing and in some instances never to be raced again. Security apparatus should use the due process of the law in fight against terrorism," he said.

He said the issue was really affecting them as leaders and parents from this region. 

“We know that we are fighting terror and we agree with you that terrorists are our enemies and enemies of our country, and there is no way the people of Garissa will side with our enemies. So please, CS, advise your security officials to fight terror within the law,” he added.

“This government thanks the people of the Northeastern region for working in collaboration with our security agencies in the fight against terrorism. I want to also thank the local leaders for sensitising the citizens against terrorism and working with the government,” Kindiki said.

“I want to say on behalf of the government that we will fight terrorism without harming the citizens in any way either through unsanctioned arrests or extrajudicial killings or abductions. I want to state here without fear of contradiction, that this administration does not condone extrajudicial killings or any other extrajudicial processes,” he added.

ODM nominated MP Umulkheir Harun urged the security apparatus to follow the law, saying that actions by the government were counterproductive in the fight against terror.

“We are saying that even if the suspects have committed crimes, let them be taken to court and follow the due process of the law. The security agencies need the support of the local communities but if they start seeing people disappear, they most likely will stop cooperating so the process must be holistic,” the nominated MP  said.

She said residents are willing and ready to work with the security agencies but said communities’ fundamental rights and freedom must be respected, adding that local leadership will continue to speak up against injustices.

“If we continue aggravating, intimidating, threatening and abducting them, how do you expect them to work with you and give the very same crucial information that will help protect our borders. It will be good to respect the community, because most of the time, the same community gives intelligence when needed,”she said.

She said if the vetting process for the application of IDs for Northeastern is removed, then she will defect to UDA.

At least six abduction cases have been reported across Garissa in the last three months, with Fafi constituency recording the highest number.

The latest incident occurred on October 30, when one Abdirashid Hish Mohamed was abducted by people believed to be police officers, who picked him up from his shop in Garissa town.

However, he was released late last week after local leaders piled pressure on the government to produce him.