Senators accuse government of laxity in war on terror

Senators Tuesday condemned Sunday’s gun attack on a church in Mombasa and challenged the national government to tighten security surveillance at the Coast.

The Senate adjourned the day’s business to discuss the state of security in the coastal town blaming the government for not taking the serious the rise of insecurity in the region.

They want the Government to reveal what it was doing to ensure safety of all Kenyans.

The lawmakers said persistent attacks on churches and other places of worship was worrying and a trick to scare away Kenyans from enjoying the freedom of worship enshrined in the Constitution.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar moved the motion saying he was worried by the deteriorating safety of citizens in the county.

“We are greatly concerned by what is happening in Mombasa. The last one month we have seen increased insecurity. This state of affairs is untenable and unacceptable,” said Mr Omar.

He said the national government should take responsibility for failing to prevent such persistent attacks.

“The attack in Likoni was set to create discord and disunity between the two religious groups but leaders have stood up against this intention. It is a very heavy load to be constantly addressing the issue of insecurity in Mombasa. The national government should take responsibility of ensuring the county is secure,” the Senator told the House.

Minority Leader Moses Wetangula seconded the motion condemning the two attackers who aimed their guns at worshippers at Joy of Jesus church killing six people last Sunday.

“Attacking places of worship is unacceptable. It must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. Why are we having ruthless youths and extremists in our society? Is this a spillover from Somalia or is it an internal problem? We must ask ourselves these questions in dealing with the situation in Mombasa,” said Mr Wetangula, also Bungoma Senator.

The legislators expressed concern at the laxity in pursuing suspected past attackers saying they were yet to be apprehended months later.

“What profits a man to kill innocent people or someone who has not hurt you? We need to restructure our security system to involve the counties. We need to rethink our policing to enable ordinary people easily report such suspicious people,” said Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.