North Eastern Regional Commissioner raises alarm over smuggled contraband
RC John Otieno called for close collaboration among security organs to combat the illegal cross-border trade.
North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno ordered sub-county security heads in North Eastern to remain vigilant against contraband smuggled into the country.
Speaking in Wajir County on Monday during the Reinvent Programme supported by the UK government, the Regional Commissioner (RC), stated that the illegal trade had been a major source of revenue to the Al Shabaab group.
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“The only major source of revenue for the group is collecting revenue from the smugglers, which continues to compromise our national security,” said the RC.
He called for the need to maintain a close collaboration among security organs to combat the illegal cross-border trade.
Otieno also revealed that the government has formulated strategies to protect the ongoing national road projects including the Lappset project that links Lamu port to Northern Kenya and Ethiopia.
Security officials during the Reinvent Programme in Wajir County on February 19, 2024.
He said security officers will be provided with the necessary resources to ensure the successful completion of the mega project.
The projects faced security challenges including an incident in Garissa county where four Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) road engineers inspecting the Lapsset road project died last year after their vehicle ran on an Improvised Explosive Device.
The RC urged the Sub-County Security Committee drawn from various sub-counties to ensure effective teamwork, coordination and swift response to security threats in the region, such as violent extremism, drug and human trafficking and gender-based violence.
Last week the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki also held a routine strategy briefing with North Eastern Region and Wajir security heads in Wajir town.
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