Coast regional coordinator Nelson Marwa during a past media briefing. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
Immense corruption among chiefs has hampered the fight against terrorism, Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa has said.Marwa accused some of the chiefs of taking bribes at the expense of residents’ security. He noted that chiefs are now allowing criminals to go unpunished after receiving bribes from them. He also said the efforts to flush out suspected al-Shabaab militia from Boni Forest and other areas has continued to suffer several setbacks because of the chiefs’ corruption and lack of commitment.Marwa directed Lamu County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo and his deputy Louis Rono to form new community policing committees that will ensure no chief is receiving bribes from criminals.“Many security challenges here in Lamu are done in the full knowledge of chiefs. These criminals and militants have been bribing their way here and killing locals and the chiefs are aware. They take bribes and allow militants to come and kill innocent civilians at will,” said Marwa, as quoted by the Star.Marwa said the new policing committees will be made up of members from all the communities.“That is why I am disbanding all community policing committees here. Let new ones be formed where all communities will be represented. We are also firing some of the chiefs whose actions have left people dead,” said Marwa.