Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i has disagreed with top security officials in the coast region over the real causes of attacks witnessed in the volatile region.
Senior security agents led by Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa had indicated that some of the attacks witnessed in the region are as a result of the conflict over pasture between farmers and pastoralists.
Mr Matiang'i, however, condemned the claims affirming that the attacks, especially in Lamu County, were purely caused by suspected Al Shabaab militants in the region.
Speaking in Mombasa at Uhuru na Kazi building, the Cabinet Secretary noted that the region faces no other serious security issues besides terrorism.
“As far we are concerned we have a security crisis and that is terrorism. But someone else wants you to think it’s a local communal conflict or resource conflict so that we are all thrown off balance and take our eyes off the ball,” Dr Matiang’i stated.
He also dismissed the reports issued by the Coast regional coordinator that the Linda Boni operation had failed.
“We have a multi-agency team on the ground that is working hard to ensure that part of the country is kept safe,” he noted.
Mr Marwa had earlier indicated that the national government would not tolerate incompetent officers following failure in securing the area.
This conflict among the officials comes as the acting Interior CS assured the coast residents that the security agencies were prepared to deal with the insecurity issue in the region.
He was accompanied by Director of Criminal Investigation Ndegwa Muhoro and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett.
