Security vs Insecurity

I came across this article by in the nation newspaper,21st jan. 2010 and felt i should share.
Now Saitoti tells us he has been able to shield off many terrorist attacks,thank you Mr Minister but what happened during the Muslim riots over the jailed Muslim cleric???By suggesting that the Alshabaab were involved in the riots,does that not say anything about our security??? Read on:

Saitoti tells of foiled attacks
Security agents have foiled numerous terrorist attacks targeting Kenya, Internal Security minister George Saitoti has revealed.

Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, the minister said were it not for the efforts taken behind the scenes, Kenyans would be experiencing “terrible things”.

Prof Saitoti made the remarks while defending the ongoing crackdown against foreigners living in Kenya illegally, some of whom he labelled sympathisers of the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militia that has links with the Al-Qaeda terror network.

He said: “The security authorities are in a position to make sure they are able to nip it (terror threat) in the bud. I cannot, for security reasons, come and tell you the planned incidents, which, incidentally, we have frustrated, and there have been many.”

The minister added: “If we had gone to sleep I can assure you that many terrible things will happen to this country but we don’t want to tell you that and no government will able to go and say those things.”

More than 500 foreigners have been arrested in a night operation that started on Sunday, which targets hotels, casinos, bars, restaurants and lodgings. The operation is concentrated in Eastleigh and the city centre.

It has also taken place in Nakuru, Nyeri and along major highways connecting Kenya with neighbouring countries. Twelve Somali MPs, five of them facing deportation, were among the foreigners rounded up.

Al-Shabaab

At least 50 of those arrested have been isolated and handed over to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, where they are being interrogated over possible links with the Al-Shabaab. “We’ve clearly stated that those foreigners who are living here and don’t have legal permits to be here have to leave this country. No country allows it and Kenya cannot be an exception,” Prof Saitoti said.

The minister said the crackdown is not intended to punish members of particular communities. He called on all Kenyans to co-operate with security officers in the operation, saying security was a responsibility of all citizens.

If indeed it is true that the Alshaabab militia had anything to do with the riots that saw protesters shot a police officer and a number of protesters killed,any sane Kenyans should be worried.When we have militias carrying weapons to demonstrations,as Saitoti suggested,then we have a great cause for concern.Something is seriously wrong in the Security apparatus of this Country.I am just saying,we need to think seriously about this allegations and what they portend for Kenya's future.

Draft Constitution

Our politicians are at it again. Many a Kenyan has stressed the need to have consensus rather than be given draft options-like the former Yes/No that did not work. By voting No, we were left without a draft,the reason for this second coming referendum. Our politicians are out in arms already fighting their turf wars in the name of 'wakenya wanataka.' Masters of the deception game,some of our 'beloved' leaders are already condemning the constitution and leading us,apparently towards another yes/no referendum that will probably yield nothing. Kenyans have long showed their desire for a new constitution and the time is ripe for the same. It is okay to disagree with the document as a leader but to give us a blanket condemnation of some sections of the document with the 'wananchi wanataka' slogan is to stoop low. Gone are the days when leaders would use their communities as a means to continue their own selfish political ends. Let them tell us they want this and that out or in the draft and not 'kenyans want' I do not remember at any one point politicians calling for views from Kenyans before giving them to the public.If anything the Kitonga led commission did exactly that and it is therefore fraudulent for the MPs and others to continue using 'Kenyans' as an excuse to say what they want done in the drafts. Our MPs efforts should be directed towards finding a consensus and not taking us back to their orange/banana games of the last referendum. Kudos to the Commission for the document; but we need to find a consensus on the contagious issues whatever they are. Not a Yes/No war again.

Disparity as it is!

So we all can now clearly see how how apart the classes really are in this country. A closer look at the exam results for the primary school goers is ample example. That the public schools continue to perform poorly while the private ones take all the top spots.Offcourse we can not by any means blame the private schools for the way things are;the blame squarly lies with the government.With primary schools that have a pupil-teacher ratio of 1 for over 100,compared to private schools with the recommened ratio of 1 for every 40 pupils,there in lies the problem amidst a host of many others i chose not to explore. What is the way forward? Thats a story for another day,in the meantime i chose to ponder over the same.