UDA MP Faults the US After Armed Thugs Kill 5 in Night Raid

Wajir North Member of Parliament Ibrahim Abdi Saney on Monday, June 26, claimed that the US government is partly responsible for the recent surge of terrorist activity in Kenya. 

Speaking during an interview with K24, the lawmaker faulted the US for not labelling Al Shabaab as a terrorist group shortly after the group allegedly murdered five people in Salama Village, Lamu County. Saney cautioned President William Ruto's administration to be cautious when dealing with Somalia, arguing that the war-torn nation is a major trading partner to Kenya.

“In as much as we blame our government, why is the US not profiling the Al Shabaab as a terrorist organisation? We have seen them repeatedly fail to do so,” he stated. 

His remarks came a day after terrorists reportedly attacked a village in Lamu, killing five people and burning down several homes. Saney suggested that with the US's assistance, Kenya has the potential to eradicate the terror group that has afflicted the country for decades. The MP further asserted that Kenya has the capability to fight against the extremists, and only needs the backing of global powers. 

According to the MP, the decision by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to reopen the Kenya-Somalia border was timely. Ruto recently lauded Kindiki for the move, explaining that opening the Somalia frontier is a wise choice. Security expert George Musamali has suggested that politicians should stop relying on the US for assistance. He suggests that although the US can provide logistical support, Kenya should come up with its own approaches to collect its own security intel.