[Fafi MP Barre Shirr (L) who addressed a press conference in Nairobi threatening to arm residents to fight Al Shabaab.] (the-star.co.ke)Activists in Garissa have rejected a proposal by a section of politicians in the county to arm locals to help fight Somalia-based insurgent group Al Shabaab.
MPs from the county last week said they will source for arms in Somalia and arm residents if the government does not take it upon itself to curb terror attacks in Garissa and in extension North Eastern region.
Garissa Peace secretary Hassan Osman said the move to arm locals was ill advised as it is the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens.
Osman dismissed claims that security agencies were sleeping on their job in the far-flung county giving room for Al Shabaab to launch attacks against police and residents.
“We are telling the MPs to stop rushing into making reckless statements that will worsen the situation,” Osman said at a press briefing in Garissa town.
“They have never asked the residents to cooperate with peace committees and the security organs on the ground.”
He added: “They should not condemn officers who are engaged day and night defending our people. We know elections are around the corner and we suspect they are just doing this to gain political mileage.”
Kenya Livestock Marketing Council chairperson Dubat Amey said arming residents will worsen the situation particularly on the border with Somalia.
He said arming residents may heighten attacks of the Kenyan side which has already suffered numerous raids from the militant group.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” Dubat said.
“We agree that there is a problem but this is not the way to go. The MPs look desperate.”