Kenya's Security Needs More Than Leadership Change: Analysts

A protester is briefly detained by police during a November 25th demonstration in Nairobi to demand greater security. A week later, Kenya's two top security chiefs were swept out of office. [Tony Karumba/AFP] A protester is briefly detained by police during a November 25th demonstration in Nairobi to demand greater security. A week later, Kenya's two top security chiefs were swept out of office. [Tony Karumba/AFP] Related Articles Kenya police killings amplify calls for Lenku, Kimaiyo resignation Recent insecurity in Kenya blamed on police turf war Pressure mounts on Kenya's top security chiefs after series of deadly attacks Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo resigned from his post and Cabinet Secretary of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government Joseph Ole Lenku was dismissed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on December 2nd following two brutal al-Shabaab attacks in Mandera County. Kenyatta nominated retired Kenyan army Major General Joseph Ole Nkaissery, who currently represents Kajiado Central Constituency in the National Assembly, to replace Lenku, while Kimaiyo will remain in office until the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) selects an interim replacement. Kimaiyo and Lenku have been accused of failing to stem growing insecurity in the country and have been the target of harsh criticism for their inability to contain al-Shabaab. It is not yet clear when the NPSC plans to replace Kimaiyo, but High Court Justice Isaac Lenaola told Sabahi an application filed by activists to stop the NPSC from recruiting a successor is still under review. Systemic security challenges The removal of the two security chiefs is a step in the right direction, said Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdi, director and senior consultant for Southlink Consultants, a Kenya-based international consultancy firm focused on development and research in Africa. However, Abdi said he was sceptical that the new appointees will deliver better results. "Though we have had leadership failures in Kimaiyo and Lenku, and the new appointees may inspire hope for a leadership shift, we still have major systemic troubles in the entire police force that might scuttle efforts by the new leadership to direct the force in tackling the security challenges effectively," he told Sabahi. In addition, he said, more police officers need to be recruited, especially from rural and pastoral areas. "The country also needs to refocus more on intelligence gathering as well as intensify the war on corruption within the police," he said, adding that terrorists are able to enter the country by bribing police officers manning border points and roadblocks. The incoming security chiefs also should seek to change the police training curriculum to inculcate community policing and patriotism, he said. "This will enable the police force upon graduation to have a good working relationship with communities they work in as well as love their country," he said. New security strategy needed Kenya's security situation remains exceptionally dangerous, said Andrew Franklin, managing director of Your African Source, a Nairobi-based security consulting firm. Even though Lenku and Kimaiyo will be replaced, the government still needs to re-evaluate the nature of the threats afflicting Kenya and develop strategies to counter these dangers, he said. "As we speak today, there is no single framework by the government on how they intend to deal with the security challenges," he told Sabahi. "Therefore developing a strategy should now be a priority." The adoption of appropriate tactics to counter insurgency and combat terrorism must be based on clearly enunciated strategic priorities, he said, adding that political will and a coherent vision of what needs to be done are needed if the security situation is to be turned around. "Apart from lack of political goodwill from top government officials on policing matters, there is also an institutional crisis of leadership and morale within the disciplined forces that goes well beyond bureaucratic inertia," Franklin said. "The Westgate saga clearly showed a dearth of initiative and motivation in our uniform forces, as even senior members of the National Police Service on the scene milled around outside the mall awaiting orders from higher-ups," he said. "This is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately [upon] Kimaiyo's exit." Kenya's Anti-Terrorism Police Unit also needs to receive increased funding, Franklin said. "Conflating the threats from al-Shabaab with challenges posed by the Mombasa Republican Council merely confuses the situation," he said. "Furthermore, the continued pursuit of al-Shabaab in Somalia will not solve problems of domestic terrorism, youth radicalisation and general insecurity within our borders." The current lack of operational strategy and the continued use of excessive force is compounding the problem, as is ethnic and religious profiling, he said. Franklin called on leaders to stop politicising insecurity, saying that political leaders on both sides must stop scoring cheap shots against their opponents whenever a terrorist attack occurs. Specific policies and expected outcomes need to be clearly laid out by civil society groups, the media and other interested parties and handed to the incoming cabinet secretary for consideration, he said. Developing a coherent national policy The leadership change is not enough to guarantee the security situation will improve, said Ndung'u Wainaina, executive director of the International Centre for Policy and Conflict Resolution. "To be able to deal with rampant insecurity, the National Security Council chaired by the president should develop a coherent national policy on law enforcement and crime prevention to be used in fighting insecurity, and overhaul and rebuild the Criminal Investigation Department to make it more functional and responsive to crime trends in the country," he told Sabahi. Kenyatta, as a symbol of national unity, must work to unite Kenyans against a single enemy, terrorism, Wainaina said. He cautioned against polarising statements that blame a specific group for attacks, such as Muslims from the Somali community, which he said jeopardises national integration. Responding to the growing concerns, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government Monica Juma said the government was developing concrete plans to address the current security challenges. "We have had challenges, but we are reorganising how we do things until we tame all the security threats," she told Sabahi. On Tuesday (December 9th) the government released the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014, expected to be debated in parliament this week. Proposed changes include boosting the time police can hold terrorism suspects from the current 90 days to one year, bail restrictions and increased sentences, and additional powers to intercept suspects' communications without a court order. Speaking to the National Assembly, Majority Leader Aden Duale said the bill was good for the country and urged its swift enactment, Kenya's The Star reported. But lawmaker John Mbadi, chairman of the Orange Democratic Movement opposition party, said his party would oppose any amendments that threaten the democratic gains Kenya has achieved. "We shall study the proposals and pass only those that are progressive," he said. "We shall shoot down draconian amendments."