Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof. Kithure Kindiki has vowed to protect critical government
installations across the County against vandalism.
Consequently, Kindiki warned that individuals who are involved in vandalizing vital
Government facilities risk being shot on sight saying they are national security areas.
He particularly took issue with individuals who are vandalizing the Standard Gauge
Railway (SGR) and said that they were enemies of Kenyans adding that they are like terrorists
destroying economic investment of the County.
The CS further said that the railway ferries many people besides transporting goods of
high value within the Country, noting that it is vital in boosting the Country’s economy, hence
the need to protect it.
“I want you to understand me, I have gazetted in the Kenya Gazette a new law to protect
our vital facilities like railway, Ndakaine and Sasamua dams supplying water to many people.
The Law governing critical infrastructure now is the Protected Areas Act Cap 204 Laws of Kenya.
Any person found within the vicinity of a protected area, will be shot,” warned Kindiki while unveiling the new Kambu Sub County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Teresia Mburu on Monday.
“The Act is the most serious one and more punitive law that protects State House. If a
security officer finds you in the protected area without permission, there is no time to ask you
questions. The law allows the officer to shoot you. Leave the critical facilities alone, those are
national security assets,” noted the CS.
In this regard, he asked those involved in this illegal business to stop and try to engage
themselves in other businesses like other Kenyans in the Country.
He pointed that the continued vandalizing of the railway may result in causing fatal
accidents and will bring loss of many lives besides losing goods of high value being transported
to other parts of the Country.
“Those engaged in stealing scrap metals, vandalizing the railway to get a few shillings
from scrap dealers, are enemies of Kenyans just like terrorists,” he said.
“Destroying the railway can lead to fatal accidents, because it is possible for us to lose
many people and high value goods due to the stupidity of a few people stealing the metal to
sell for a few coins. You should look for an economic activity to do like other Kenyans,” Kindiki
added.
On civil servants, the Cabinet Secretary warned them against receiving bribes while
serving the people and instead asked them to be responsible and accountable to the citizens
they offer services to.
While asking them to work with elected leaders, he challenged them to avoid divisive
politics saying it was imperative to serve wananchi without being partisan.
“The Chiefs, Assistant County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, County
Commissioners and the police should serve people without demanding bribes. Work with the
elected leaders and avoid divisive politics,” warned Kindiki.
The Cabinet Secretary inaugurated the new Deputy County Commissioner who was a
Senior Assistant Commissioner at Kibra Sub County in Nairobi County. Ms Mburu was promoted during the event.
He directed the area County Commissioner Henry Wafula to operationalize areas that
were gazetted in 2017 in the next two months.
At the same time, he asked Wafula and his Taita Taveta counterpart Josephine Onunga to find a lasting solution to the boundary dispute between the two Counties at Mtito Andei in the next two weeks.
The CS promised that all Heads of Department will be posted to the new Sub County in
the next two weeks and he gave Sh 3 million to expand the offices.
Speaking at the same event, Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo asked the
National Government to provide the Administration Police officers with a vehicle in the
new Sub County.
Present at the function included Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich who was
accompanied by his security team, senior National and County government officials.
By Patrick Nyakundi
