By Yahya:
Nairobi, Kenya –
Startling claims by Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki asserted the neutralisation of all 60 al-Shabaab extremists involved in the recent attack in Lamu County, Kenya. However, the failure to present any tangible proof has cast doubt on the declaration, prompting calls for evidence.
In the wake of Monday’s attack, believed to be orchestrated by the al-Shabaab militants, Kenyan security agencies took swift action, Kindiki said. “We have neutralised all those threats. All people who attacked our people yesterday [on Monday] have been neutralised.” The CS also described the allegedly eliminated militants as heavily armed and large in number.
Kindiki attributed the operation’s success to the unwavering dedication of security agencies and the vigilance of elite officers patrolling the Lamu-Garsen road.
Despite the resolute statement, concerns have arisen due to the lack of verifiable evidence. The absence of proof has sparked scepticism, leading to questioning the operation and the number of allegedly killed terrorists. Neutralising all 60 of them – the whole al-Shabaab unit responsible for the Monday ambush – would be a rare achievement of Kenyan security forces.
Kenya’s transparency issues
Credible information dissemination has a pivotal role in countering violent extremism. Unfortunately, Kenya has a long record of failing in that. An exemplary case of that was al-Shabaab’s attack on the El Adde military base in Southern Somalia in 2016. While this was one of the deadliest attacks on the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops stationed in Somalia to fight al-Shabaab, the Kenyan government went to extreme lengths to conceal the extent of its losses.
Admitting the actual number of losses suffered in a single attack might shock the public in the short term. However, concealing the facts and effectively manipulating the public is even more dangerous in the long run. Even if winning militarily, Kenya and its allies would lose the propaganda war on al-Shabaab due to such manipulations. Al-Shabaab has reportedly been way more efficient in the online space than Kenya, ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia) or the Somali government.
Therefore, if there is a space for improvement when combatting al-Shabaab, it is definitely disrupting their narratives. To achieve that, officials, including CS Kindiki, must present credible and transparent information to the public. The above claim that security forces neutralised “all 60 al-Shabaab militants” might be valid. However, because of Kenya’s poor transparency record, people rightfully call for evidence.
37 teachers killed since 2012
Kindiki’s testimony before the National Assembly Education Committee has unveiled yet another sombre reality. The CS disclosed that a staggering 37 educators have succumbed to the al-Shabaab violence in the last 11 years, accompanied by a harrowing 30 security personnel killed within the past two months alone. These numbers emphasise the urgency for seriously boosting security in the North Eastern Kenyan regions.
Moreover, the safety measures should focus on the non-local population, which is specifically targeted by al-Shabaab. Often coming from different parts of Kenya, teachers risk their lives when fulfilling their profession in the North East. The Kenyan government should deem their protection critical.
