BARBARIC ATTACKS SHOULD STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE RATHER THAN DENT OUR COHESION AND UNITY

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) strongly condemns the barbaric terror attacks in Mandera that led to the death of 28 innocent Kenyans. This heinous act carried out by the criminal Al-Shabab terror group should be condemned by all Kenyans.

NCIC calls for restraint and religious tolerance as we continue with our debates on how to counter our common enemies. We must remain united as the country battles with extremism and radicalization as well as other vices. Kenyans should avoid the temptation to fall into Al-Shabab’s scheme to divide our people along religious lines.

We reiterate that it is the responsibility of the Government to secure all parts of the country including porous borders and ensure that the lives of all Kenyans and their livelihoods are proactively safeguarded. We equally appeal to Kenyans especially those in hotspot areas to support community policing initiatives and expose the criminal elements in the society. Every Kenyan has a responsibility to contribute to the security and stability of our nation.

Whereas it is the duty of trade unions and other professional bodies to be concerned about the welfare of their members, emotive pronouncements such as those by KNUT and the Doctors’ Union will be counter-productive and could easily play into the evil hands of the Al-Shabab terror group – which is bent on balkanizing Kenyans along regional, ethnic and religious lines.

Finally, I wish to state the Commission’s serious concern about hate speech being propagated in the social media, in public spaces, as well as in political rallies and public meetings. Our Officers and those of other collaborative agencies are on high alert and continue to closely monitor these spaces even as investigations on a number of hate speech cases are ongoing. Errant politicians and other aggressors that peddle and propagate hate speech in rallies and meetings as well as youth and bloggers on the social media are placed on notice.

HON. FRANCIS OLE KAPARO, EGH, SS

COMMISSION CHAIRMAN