The government will equip security officers with modern equipment to protect them against armed criminals and enable them to protect Kenyans and their property, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has said.
Speaking on Monday in Wajir County during the operationalization of Kotulo Sub-County in Tarbaj, Kindiki commended security officers from all the agencies for working tirelessly and diligently to fight insecurity in the North Eastern region.
“Some of our officers have even lost their lives and others injured by armed criminals. No prize is enough to honour our officers for their diligence. They are patriotic men and women who love their country. I pay tribute to all these officers who work in the difficult terrain of North Eastern,” the security minister said.
He reiterated that the government will not condone extrajudicial killings, saying “The days of enforced disappearances are long gone.”
Prof Kindiki at the same time urged all citizens to work with the security officers and resist attempts by terror groups to radicalise the youth into violent extremism.
“Terrorism remains a key national security concern and the Government will triumph over terror. Parents must remain vigilant and counsel their children to resist radicalisation or recruitment into terror groups,” the CS said.
Kindiki oversaw the commissioning of the Kotulo Sub-County headquarters and the installation of the first Deputy County Commissioner Farah Hassan Mohamed.
The Sub-County was created in March 2022 and covers an approximate area of 6,594 square kilometres.
The newly operationalized Sub-County with 2 Divisions, 12 Locations and 19 Sub-Locations has a population of 28,167 people according to the 2019 National Housing and Population Census.
The Interior CS was accompanied by Tarbaj MP Hussein Abdi Barre, MCAs, National and County government officials, as well as community and religious leaders.