Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow was addressing thousands of demonstrators at the Central Bus Park.
by Stephen Astariko
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow has welcomed the government's plan to construct a security wall along the Somalia border.
Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery on Monday said the wall will run from Border Point One to Bulla Hawa.
"The wall will help in reducing the number of terrorists crossing into the country besides curbing the illegal entry of contraband goods that have wrecked our economy," said Kerrow.
However, he said the wall will not be "the complete solution" to terror due to the high number of al Shabaab sympathisers in Mandera.
At the same time, Kerrow faulted the Nkaissery for "repeatedly" blaming attempts on Governor Ali Roba's life on banditry.
Kerrow said it is "unfortunate" Nkaissery made the same remarks last Saturday in Mandera town.
On March 13, three people died when Roba's convoy was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade.
"This was the fifth attempt on the governor's life. They [state] have never done any conclusive investigation related to the attacks yet here they are telling us it is banditry," Kerrow said.
The senator was addressing thousands of demonstrators at the Central Bus Park, who were demanding county commissioner Alex Nkoyo leaves over terror incidents that have rocked the county for five months.
Residents had on Friday given Nkoyo 48 hours to vacate office.
"Bandits steal goods and money from their victims. When the governor's security vehicle was attacked they killed people but did not take their belongings," Kerrow said.
He said the Mandera economy has almost ground to a halt.