One woman told me that Haji’s photos during the Westgate rescue operation are a hit on Facebook and he has received many marriage proposals. PHOTO/FILE
In Summary
Somalis living in Nairobi who I spoke to last week attribute this to the leadership displayed by President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was careful not to apportion blame for the attacks on any one community.
One woman told me that Haji’s photos during the Westgate rescue operation are a hit on Facebook and he has received many marriage proposals.
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Raychelle Omamo and KDF spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir have been issuing contradictory statements regarding the looting.
If the terrorists who laid siege over the Westgate shopping mall thought they would gain more converts and popularity, particularly among Kenya’s ethnic Somali and Muslim communities, they are in for a rude shock.
The Somali and Muslim communities in Kenya have not only condemned the attack, but have so far not suffered any attacks as had been feared.
The kind of harassment by police, including extortion, that was inflicted on Somalis living in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area early this year (when the government decreed that urban refugees should go back to camps), has not taken place.
Somalis living in Nairobi who I spoke to last week attribute this to the leadership displayed by President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was careful not to apportion blame for the attacks on any one community.
The widely published image of rescuer Abdul Haji, a Kenyan Somali and son of former Defence minister Yusuf Haji, has also given the Somali community an added boost.
One woman told me that Haji’s photos during the Westgate rescue operation are a hit on Facebook and he has received many marriage proposals.
However, the feelings of pride and patriotism that erupted during the terrorist attack quickly dissipated with revelations of massive looting (allegedly by some members of the Kenya Defence Forces) during the rescue operation.
It is beyond belief that some security personnel – who were hero-worshipped during the raid – can think of looting during an unfolding tragedy.
Feelings of pride in our security officers turned to shame, not least because the looting was occurring while the country was praying for the safety of both the hostages and the security officers at Westgate. What kind of person thinks of looting in the middle of a deadly rescue operation?
But then should we be surprised?
For decades, theft and corruption have been a way of life in Kenya, a fact that has been exploited by all manner of criminals.
Observers have noted that while al-Shabaab also views Ethiopia as an enemy, it would not dare stage a terrorist attack in that country because the security forces and government officials there are more disciplined and less corruptible than Kenyans.
Our immigration department is notorious for letting in drug dealers, wanted criminals, paedophiles, terrorists and the like.
Revelations that a Nigerian drug dealer who had been deported by the government recently found his way back into the country did not lead to a major shake-up at the immigration department.
Just last month, this newspaper reported that traffic police officers were making a killing from motorists, and that the carnage we witness on our roads was a direct result of their bribe-taking. No heads rolled after that story was published.
Increasing evidence that the terrorists who killed and maimed people during the Westgate attack might have been in the country for several months – possibly under police protection – have not been addressed by the government, which continues to issue conflicting reports about the identity of the terrorists, and to date has not identified those killed or in their custody.
The attack has provided President Kenyatta a golden opportunity to mop up our security and immigration departments.
A purge of all those found culpable of corruption, theft or laxity should take place immediately.
If this is not done, Kenya will remain a favourite target of terrorists.
The purge may also lessen the shame that every Kenyan is feeling because of the behaviour of security officers.
Our legislators also need to re-think Kenya’s anti-terrorism legislation.
Currently, a person who inflicts terror in Kenya can be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison, but a person who commits robbery with violence is sentenced to death.
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Raychelle Omamo and KDF spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir have been issuing contradictory statements regarding the looting.
A day after Omamo urged the public to present evidence of looting, the military spokesman said KDF had taken more than Sh300 million from mall for “safekeeping”.
Now who do we believe?
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