The following is the press statement I gave this morning at the Council of Governors offices when presenting a cheque of shs 3 million on behalf of Mandeta County Government to assist families of the 36 people massacred at the quary in Mandera recently. The cheque was presented to their chairman Isaac Ruto. Press Statement by Hon. Billow Kerrow, Senator Mandera County Government 10 December 2014 REGARDING SECURITY IN MANDERA COUNTY On my own behalf and on behalf of the Mandera County Government I wish, once again, to express my deepest sympathies with the families and friends of 36 Kenyans who were killed in a quarry, in a terrorist attack, on Tuesday 02 December. I am deeply saddened that anyone could contemplate such an ugly assault on innocent people. The 64 people who have recently been slain by terrorists had no quarrel with those who took away their lives. Terrorists play on our psychology and passions by choosing soft and emotive targets, as has been the case in the two attacks. Their intention is to injure social relations by sowing the violentseeds of discord among peaceful populations. They hope that we can then become instruments of furthering their wicked agenda. We, the Mandera County Government, wish to urge Kenyans not to assist the merchants of terror to further their ends. Through creation of panic, fear, disaffection and disharmony in our midst, the merchants of terror can easily gain ground by causing internal strife and by forcing people to migrate to what are perceived to be safer zones. We have a collective duty as Kenyans not to cede any space to the merchants of terror and violence. If we surrender this space to them today, they will push for more space tomorrow. In the end, we risk being overrun everywhere. We wish, therefore, to urge the entire Kenyan nation and lovers of peace and harmony everywhere, to join us to defeat the terrorists. Already, the Mandera County Government has organized peace meetings for leaders in the county. The meetings seek to define a solid way forward in the security of the residents. Public goodwill will be of the greatest essence towards realization of tangible results. The County leadership has held meetings with the security team, the youth, religious leaders, women as well as elders. These stakeholder meetings will be cascaded down to the village level through village barazas. In all these meetings, we have seen firm determination by all to work towards lasting peace and security in the County. The next step is to start de-radicalization programmes for the youth. We will protect our youth from falling prey to the terrorists. We will work with other leaders – and especially religious leaders – in this regard. We are also working with the National Government towards enhanced surveillance through a wide range of approaches. We are most encouraged by the cooperation we have so far had from the National Government. Finally, as we mourn with the bereaved, we wish to make a modest contribution of KShs.3,000,000 to go towards the funeral expenses for the thirty-six. We know that you are greatly pained and are hurting. Please accept this as a modest gesture of our goodwill. And may God be with you in this very painful moment. Thank you, God bless you.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:23:41 +0000
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