Seek Westgate answers from other key units, not just the uniformed forces

Interior secretary Joseph ole Lenku (centre), the Chief of Defence Forces Julius Karangi (right) and Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo brief the press on the Westgate mall attack. A commission of inquiry should have a wide mandate. Photo/FILE  Nation Media Group

By Atunga Atuti

In Summary

• It is with this wisdom of hindsight that we urge President Uhuru Kenyatta to expand the terms of the Commission of Inquiry not only to look into the Westgate attack but also make far-reaching recommendations on the organisation of Kenya’s security agencies to meet expectations as provided in the Constitution.

Our hearts and prayers are with those who lost their loved ones or were hurt in the Westgate terror attack. But while we condole and console, the tragedy should be a wake-up call for more concerted and strategic approaches to reinforcing the legal, institutional and policy framework for dealing with national security threats.

Kenya faces myriad threats, many of which our security, intelligence teams, and other law enforcement agencies have worked to forestall.

We have, for instance in the recent months, witnessed a number of suspects with explosives and bomb making substances being arrested and brought to justice. This is perhaps luck or a result of good intelligence. But these are not excuses for the lapses that resulted in widespread loss of lives at Westgate.

Identifying the perpetrators and punishing them requires efforts of all the security agencies. In addition, Kenyan folk are indispensable in the evolution of a national security architecture.

However, profiling of certain religions or communities as perpetrators of heinous crimes will not work, but an effective national dialogue is needed urgently with a view of closing the rifts caused by the mall attack.

If we trust ordinary citizens as important actors in community policing for instance, why can’t we appreciate that terrorism is planned and implemented by elements in our society who can be identified by their neighbours and reported to the authorities? What can we learn from the prompt response of the ordinary citizens that saved lives?

Law enforcers, especially the police service, needs to tap into this immense goodwill and support extended by well meaning individuals.

Blame game would not help at this time. Worse, it has taken the form and content of political posturing. For instance, the Senate and National Assembly were among the first institutions to come out blaming this or that agency for the attack.

The MPs need to get facts right, and the only way to do so is to wait for investigation reports. While MPs assumed a tone of finality in the matter, it is contradictory that they want to hold a public inquiry on the Westgate attack.

If they did sit, this would amount to a waste of public funds in form of allowances during the committee sitting.

A Commission of Inquiry would be fine. Such a commission must have a mandate to cover all issues germane to as well as circumstances surrounding the attack.

It should be able to inquire not only into the Westgate attack but to also build scenarios on possible future threats and improving level of preparedness to respond to them.

Such a commission should model its operations along the Waki Commission on post-election violence in Kenya and the 9-11 Commission in the US as a means to making far-reaching findings and proposals.

Wild claims of culpability at this time are mistaken and are bereft of good debate. For instance, institutions like the Border Control, refugee management agencies, immigration, financial services and the mainstream security and intelligence agencies need to be involved in making submissions to the commission of inquiry.

Border control is an important bulwark against external threats but little has been mentioned about it in informing security agencies of possible dangers. Where is the immigration department and why do imagine that security is guaranteed only by our uniformed forces while such critical institutions are left out of the loop?