[Members of the Al Shabaab militant group. County Commissioner James Kianda has told residents of the county to volunteer information on suspected Al Shabaab fighters] (garoweonline.com)Garissa County Commissioner James Kianda has told residents of the county to volunteer information on suspected Al Shabaab fighters, following heightened attacks targeting security officers.
Kianda said residents should not forget how Garissa two years ago suffered one of the bloodiest terror attacks at the Garissa University College in which 148 people- majority being students- were killed by Al Shabaab militants.
“Peace is expensive and we must report anybody who wants to disrupt it,” he said in Garissa town as reported by the Star.
“It is time we show our patriotism by reporting these elements. If you don’t trust the security officers or government officials, tell your leaders and we will get them.”
“We risk going back to the dark days if we are not careful. We must work together and ensure we safeguard the security that we have attained in the past two years.”
He spoke less than two months after four people were killed when their vehicle hit an IED along the Kulan-Liboi road.The four were employees of Adeso, a local based organisation.
Before the incident, four police officers had also died after the vehicle they were traveling in was blown by an explosive planted at a roadside.
Last week leaders from Garissa- Governor Nathif Jama, Parliament Majority Leader Aden Duale and Garissa Township MP aspirant Farah Maalim called for the deployment of an elite force in North Eastern region to tame Al Shabaab.
During Madaraka Day celebrations, Kianga said government would soon recruit police reservists to help police officers patrol the border area.