Persistent Terrorist Attack In The Country
The Central Organisation of Trade Union, COTU (K) demands for the urgent convening of Parliament purposely to discuss the persistent terrorists attacks in the country particularly the Mpeketoni attacks and proceed to institute amendments to the law that will allow and empower the National Intelligent Services (NIS) Director and his team of investigators to have arresting powers as well as be trained in weaponry handling as the case was previously with the now defunct Special Branch Unit.
Currently, there exists a big disconnect between the National Intelligent Services (NIS) and the regular police force and whereas Police Officers have done a good job as a whole, because of the various invested interest ranging from the on going vetting process for which COTU (K) had opposed earlier, they have (Police) been totally unable to arrest the situation along including deterring frequent terrorist attack in the country.
Equally the communication between the NIS and the Police may not be getting the seriousness it deserves in terms of addressing the same and the immediate remedy should be for the NIS as an Intelligent and Investigating Unit to have arresting powers and after such arrests, the victims be handed over to the Police for subsequent interrogation by both the NIS and the regular Police.
Consequently, the government must move to stop the ongoing process of Police vetting for purposes of restoring confidence in our police forces since the force is considered one of the well trained on the continent but now continues to be demoralized due to the vetting process that threatens the career of even those officers with few years to serve the force fearing they would be sent home soon.
At the same time, the government should consider its position on the calls for National Dialogue which COTU (K) demands that it should not be a preserve of a few individuals within the CORD Coalition and Jubilee but should instead bring together and involve all stakeholders, Social Partners, Civil Society Groups, Trade Unions, Industrialists, Employers, Religious Leaders as well as the rest of all other welfare organizations as its evident this country requires National Dialogue more than anything else.
This is further informed by the divisions this country is experiencing now and pressure groups like the Central Oganisation of Trade Unions, COTU(K) who for decades have closely worked with the government, are now being viewed as enemies simply because they are executing their mandate as enshrined in both our National and Own Constitutions.
To this end, we believe that the National Dialogue will allow people to share all they wish to say and eventually create the much needed harmony and cohesiveness in our Nation under the able leadership of His Excellency The President Uhuru Kenyatta whom as a Nation, requires our full support in order for his government to deliver to us as Kenyans.
Francis Atwoli, EBS, MBS
SECRETARY GENERAL
