Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Sunday revealed the government's intentions to publish the names of 17 terror suspects believed to have staged terror attacks in Lamu County over the course of the year.
While addressing congregants at a church service in Ndenderu, Kiambu county, the CS said the government, would in the week beginning Monday October 9, expose the gangs hiding in Boni Forest.
To that end, Kindiki ordered all suspects whose names will appear in the gazette notice to surrender themselves to the nearest police station, KDF camp or chief's office once the government publishes the notice.
According to Kindiki, any terror suspect who fails to surrender will face the full wrath of the government.
“In regards to the lawlessness going on in Lamu county, the government will use all resources to curb it, this week I will go to Lamu, and I will stay there and not just stay, it is to end the problem,” Kindiki stated.
According to Kindiki, the gangs have exploited religious extremism and historical injustices to plan and execute terror attacks.
“Criminals who have been initiating killings, some are foreigners from Somalia while others are Kenyans who have sacrificed to betray the country for unknown reasons.”
During the event, Kindiki placed a bounty on the suspected terrorists heads, announcing a special reward to anyone who will share with authorities, information that will lead to the arrest of gang members.
“We urge the public who have information that can help us trace between 16 to 17 criminals who have been initiating killings,” the CS noted.
Kindiki's new move comes barely a fortnight after the CS gave a shoot-to-kill order to police officers battling armed terrorists in the troubled Lamu and Baringo Counties.
“The Government will not profile or criminalise any community. Security officers must work with law-abiding citizens to identify the few criminal elements who terrorize innocent residents, impoverish them economically, and taint the image of an entire community,” the CS said at the time.
