Post by Intelligencia on Jun 10, 2007 7:11:37 GMT 3
Mungiki a case of enforcement and security failure in Kenya
The Mungiki menace and ensuing mayhem in Mathare have brought to the surface stark apathetic nature of the citizenry to matters of national security. While many continue to lose their lives, polticians have taken an issue that would have called for the jettisoning of partisan bargage and working for a collective solutions, chosen to gain political mileage and only come out shooting at the mouth at perfuntory press conferences. None of the peoples representatives from the affected areas has set foot in the turfs infested and afflicted ny the Mungiki. Some, with known militias of their own, had the audacity to give slapdash speeches on how this menace can be negotiated out of.
What is most disturbing about the Mungiki menace is the unwillingness of the wananchi to out these criminals. Yes, they are known. In the ongoing operation to route out the gangsters, one known vicious adherent was cornered and took flight, only to be hidden by some kiosk operators and the police lost trace of him. He evaded justice to live and terrorize another day. The citizens goodwill which is essential in fighting such crime is severely dearth, yet the death toll rises. There should be no rejoicing when one innocent citizens life is abbreviated, neither an officer of the law, or innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
What has become evident is that the Kenya Police in their "utumishi kwa wote" excercises lack the special tactics or weapons needed in urban organized crime fighting. The brute force of yester years cannot win against gangsters who are now in possession of sophisticated weaponry, and at times outguning the police. The gangsters have the advantage of knowing the terrain, the nooks and crannies of the areas that "Utumishi kwa Wote" do not venture into. There should be a covert special operations group within the Kenya Police or department charged with sleuthing. Night scopes, body armor, smart sniffer canines, all terrain armored police patrols, rapid fire small arms are what's needed in todays urban warfare, not FOOT PATROL, bulky G3 rifles, and unrestrained dogs. There should also be sensitivity training for the law enforcement towards the wananchi they protect. There has to be trust not dread or fear, for freeflow of useful intelligence from the people to the law enforcement agents. Brute force will never endear the people to the police. It will only serve to ostracise the police force, and impede law enforcement.
The national security organ needs to infiltrate the suspect organizations and do surgical removal crime perpetrators. The should be training on gathering of evidence (not planting it) that stands court trials of criminal elements. Arraigning suspects purely on the strength of suspicion and heresay will never win a case in court against the crooks. The police should stop blaming the judiciary for letting the crooks go free, due to shoddy cases and evidence. The sect alos must be dismantled from the top. National intelligence need to find the beasts head and decapitate it. The organizations financiers, political god-fathers, and sponsors also need to be brought to book.
It is unfortunate that sections of the local press has taken the Mungiki issues as a fodder for engendering distaste against the government. This is not the right issue to do so. The insecurity issue is everyones failure and everyones collective responsibility to resolve. This is not the time for partisan politics. This is the time for a meeting of the minds to salvage our country from emerging trends of organized urban crime. Don't lets repeat the mistakes of the Land of a Thousand Hills. Do let the Kenyan press be the peacemaker not the catalyst for anarchy and lawlessness.
Intelligencia
The Mungiki menace and ensuing mayhem in Mathare have brought to the surface stark apathetic nature of the citizenry to matters of national security. While many continue to lose their lives, polticians have taken an issue that would have called for the jettisoning of partisan bargage and working for a collective solutions, chosen to gain political mileage and only come out shooting at the mouth at perfuntory press conferences. None of the peoples representatives from the affected areas has set foot in the turfs infested and afflicted ny the Mungiki. Some, with known militias of their own, had the audacity to give slapdash speeches on how this menace can be negotiated out of.
What is most disturbing about the Mungiki menace is the unwillingness of the wananchi to out these criminals. Yes, they are known. In the ongoing operation to route out the gangsters, one known vicious adherent was cornered and took flight, only to be hidden by some kiosk operators and the police lost trace of him. He evaded justice to live and terrorize another day. The citizens goodwill which is essential in fighting such crime is severely dearth, yet the death toll rises. There should be no rejoicing when one innocent citizens life is abbreviated, neither an officer of the law, or innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
What has become evident is that the Kenya Police in their "utumishi kwa wote" excercises lack the special tactics or weapons needed in urban organized crime fighting. The brute force of yester years cannot win against gangsters who are now in possession of sophisticated weaponry, and at times outguning the police. The gangsters have the advantage of knowing the terrain, the nooks and crannies of the areas that "Utumishi kwa Wote" do not venture into. There should be a covert special operations group within the Kenya Police or department charged with sleuthing. Night scopes, body armor, smart sniffer canines, all terrain armored police patrols, rapid fire small arms are what's needed in todays urban warfare, not FOOT PATROL, bulky G3 rifles, and unrestrained dogs. There should also be sensitivity training for the law enforcement towards the wananchi they protect. There has to be trust not dread or fear, for freeflow of useful intelligence from the people to the law enforcement agents. Brute force will never endear the people to the police. It will only serve to ostracise the police force, and impede law enforcement.
The national security organ needs to infiltrate the suspect organizations and do surgical removal crime perpetrators. The should be training on gathering of evidence (not planting it) that stands court trials of criminal elements. Arraigning suspects purely on the strength of suspicion and heresay will never win a case in court against the crooks. The police should stop blaming the judiciary for letting the crooks go free, due to shoddy cases and evidence. The sect alos must be dismantled from the top. National intelligence need to find the beasts head and decapitate it. The organizations financiers, political god-fathers, and sponsors also need to be brought to book.
It is unfortunate that sections of the local press has taken the Mungiki issues as a fodder for engendering distaste against the government. This is not the right issue to do so. The insecurity issue is everyones failure and everyones collective responsibility to resolve. This is not the time for partisan politics. This is the time for a meeting of the minds to salvage our country from emerging trends of organized urban crime. Don't lets repeat the mistakes of the Land of a Thousand Hills. Do let the Kenyan press be the peacemaker not the catalyst for anarchy and lawlessness.
Intelligencia