Leaders from Mandera County have committed themselves to fully supporting all government actions to secure peace and protect Kenyans from terrorism.
At a lengthy meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House Nairobi on Thursday, the leaders called for stern action to reduce the threat of the al Shabaab in the country.
They said communities in the region will play their role in confronting radicalisation, promising to also deal with sympathizers of the terror group.
“The best we can do right now is to stand together as Kenyans,” Governor Ali Roba said.
Roba noted that the al Shabaab’s tactic of targeting non-Muslims is a plot to create conflict between Kenya’s communities.
“They (terrorists) have been killing and burning Kenyan Somalis all the time but their recent strategy is aimed at creating enmity between communities,” he said.
He said the terrorists do not represent Muslims and are criminals who are fighting all Kenyans, and urged the people not to be divided by the evil they are propagating.
Roba said Mandera County will assist in the burial of the 36 people who were killed.
“We know we cannot take away the pain but we will pay Sh3million to support the burials and we also appeal to other counties to come out and support the bereaved,” he said.
Takaba MP Mohamed M Mohamud, who is also the chairman of the Mandera political leader’s forum, reiterated that the war being waged by terrorists is not against Christians alone but against all Kenyans.
“They claim they are killing in the name of religion but this is not true. We affirm our commitment to work with the government to deal with these criminals,” he said.
The other leaders who attended the meeting include Majolrity leader Aden Duale, Industrialisation CS Adan Mohamed, Mandera County Senator Billow Kerrow, Abdulaziz Farah (Mandera East MP), Shabaan Issack (Lafey MP), Hassan Osman (Nominated MP and UDF chairman), Mohamed Huka (Mandera South MP) and Mohamed Abdi Haji (Banissa MP).
– the-star.co.ke
