On February 9, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MP met with local elders in the Bura East sub-county to discuss ways to prevent terrorist attacks.
Salah Yakub, a Fafi member of parliament, promised to appoint a group of elders to negotiate with suspected Al Shabaab members to leave the area in order to prevent terrorist strikes in the North Eastern region.
He claims that terrorism has been a significant problem in Garissa, instilling inhabitants with anxiety and fear.
The citizens and elders who pledged to work with the government by giving any information about Al Shabaab suspects supported Yakub’s idea.
People know where they (suspects) stay, where the camps are, and so we want them to leave our area immediately or we the people of this area will deal with them” MP Yakub cautioned.
“We will not allow them to interfere with development projects of this constituency,” he added.
A recent occurrence in Bura when more than five people were slain was one of the latest incidents that caused dread in the area. Terrorists also tried to stop work on the Bura-Garissa road and the Lapset project.
Boaz Cherutich, a county commissioner, vowed to hunt down and eliminate any terrorists attempting to disturb the quiet in the region.
Cherutich repeated MP Yakub’s words, saying, “These elders have decided to collaborate with us by raising awareness of peace among the peasants.”
Cherutich continued, “We encourage the government to take strong punishment against any offenders who will be apprehended in the security operations.
Security officers, political elders, and chiefs were among the other representatives present at the conference.
The US embassy,in Nairobi issued a terror alert on Thursday, February 9. When engaging in activities in the city, the inhabitants were asked to exercise caution.
An excerpt from the advisory claimed that “terrorist groups could attack with little to no notice, targeting hotels, embassies, restaurants, malls and markets, schools, police stations, places of worship, and other locations frequently visited by foreigners and tourists.”
The United Kingdom (UK) also issued a similar advisory the following day, on Friday, February 10, warning people of a potential terror threat in the nation.
