Africa: State Gives Stern Warning to Saboteurs As Transport Crisis Bites Entire Region

Prof. Saitoti___________

The Government Wednesday issued the toughest warning yet to road and rail saboteurs, and vowed to ensure regional links are restored.

Trucks from Eldoret headed to Nakuru are escorted by security agents on Wednesday morning.
A tough talking Internal Security minister George Saitoti said the police were under firm instructions not to spare people blocking roads or damaging the railway, an act that has disrupted the movement of people and goods from the port of Mombasa to neighbouring countries. "We've decided to act tough to ensure the security of the country. Criminals cannot be allowed to continue disrupting activities. Those who continue to kill others, burn property or disrupt transport will face dire consequences.

We will spare no effort to ensure security in the country," he vowed.
Prof Saitoti, who met Ugandan deputy prime minister and chair of the East Africa Community Council of Ministers Eriya Kategaya, also put the police on notice: They must implement the law to the letter or be deemed to have rendered themselves redundant with no "business being in the police force in the first place".

Like gentlemen
Prof Saitoti categorically said: "If you doubt what we can do, just wait and see. Police will work within the law. You cannot continue treating criminals like gentlemen."

At the same time, Prof Saitoti said the ban on political rallies would continue until security improved. He called on politicians claiming they found it difficult to preach peace following the ban to use the provincial administration.
The ban will be reviewed periodically because political rallies had in the past been used to incite the people, he claimed.

Mr Kategaya met Prof Saitoti in his office to seek an assurance from Kenya that it would ensure the Northern Corridor that links the port of Mombasa to Uganda and other neighbouring countries was free.

The minister told Prof Saitoti that disruption of road and rail transport following the post-election violence had affected the economies of Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Southern Sudan, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo because it had become difficult to transport goods.
People had also found it difficult to travel through Kenya after buses that ply the route withdrew because security could not be guaranteed.

The deputy PM encouraged political leaders to seek an amicable solution to the problem, saying Uganda would not want instability in Kenya, as that would affect the integration process.
His country, he said, was better placed to tell Kenyans to ensure peace prevailed because it had gone through a similar path.

Prof Saitoti said the roads and the railway line would be patrolled round the clock by the police. Repairs would also be immediately undertaken to fix areas damaged in the chaos.
The military was only to be used for humanitarian purposes as happened in other countries, he said.

Was contradicted
But this was contradicted by the Ministry of Defence when it vowed to continue using all necessary security forces in order to secure the country's transport network.

Defence permanent secretary Zachary Mwaura and his Transport counterpart Gerishon Ikiara told a press briefing that all means of security, including the military, would be used to ensure the safety of all road and railway users.

The two were speaking at the Ministry of Transport offices during this week's second briefing of the post-election response committee on transport chaired by Mr Ikiara.

They added that those who were blocking the roads and railway lines would be dealt with as criminals who were taking advantage of the political crisis in the country.
The Defence PS said convoy escorts for all road users moving to and from the western part of the country would be increased.

Mr Mwaura also defended the current operations of the military, saying the armed forces were within the law as it was the army's role to support the civil authority in times of crisis. But he quickly added that the use of the military did not mean the other security agents were unable to deal with the insecurity.

"The police are not seriously challenged, but the Government is now using all ministries in an efforts to address all issues," said Mr Mwaura.
________________
Patrick Nzioka, Oliver Mathenge and Caroline Waful

Nairobi