Climate change is a serious threat to national security-PS Kindiki says.
By Musa Bashir
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki on Monday declared climate change as a threat to national security.
Speaking during the National tree planting day at the Garissa university, kindiki said that the government will fully support the exercise through the local administration.
“As a ministry we are taking this issue of climate change a as a big threat to national security, because when drought sets clashes of farmers and pastoralists are witnessed, this is so because pastoralists are looking for pasture for their animals while farmers are plating for food,”he said.
“And that is why we have defined climate change as one of the five major security threat in our country today,” he said.
Kindiki who was flanked by county leaders led by Garissa governor Nathif Jama said his ministry has directed the chiefs and assistant chiefs under the supervision of superior to make sure that they inculcate the culture of tree planting in their respective jurisdictions.
The said the tree planting exercise will now be a culture in the country something he noted was meant to save the country from the ravage of climate change including drought and floods.
On the issue security, the CS acknowledged support from the community something he noted had gone a long way in improving the security.
“People of Northeastern have continued to support us in fighting al shabaab and terrorism in general. This is the very commendable and the way to go, as a government we will continue to work with people to help weed out alshabab militant,”he said.
On the issue of extra judcual killings which has remained to a thorn in the flesh of the region, he assured local leadership that the government will fight terrorism without hurting residents in the region.
The issue of extra judicial killing and disappearance has been rampant in the region with security being blamed for the abductions.so bad is the situation that the CS was last week grilled over the same after local leaders raised the issue in parliament.
“I want to say without any fear of contradiction that this administration does not condone extra judicial killings and extra judicial processes. And therefore we are going to fight terrorism without hurting our people. And the issue of religion will never ever be dragged in this fight,” he said.
He disclosed that the issue has been discussed internally at the top level assuring the leadership and residents that going forward there will no extra judicial killings and extra judicial processes in the fight against terror.
On the issue of floods, the CS disclosed that so far 46 people have died a s result of drowning and floods calling on Kenyans to follow government directives which include avoid flood waters.
“I want to appeal to Kenyans not to take chances when it comes to flood waters. we have already lost 46 people through this. Take great caution. when our officers tall you to evacuate from flood areas please comply and if you don’t we will force you so that we can save lives,” he said.
He said that the government with the help county governments, Red cross and other non governmental originations that they will continue offering assistance to all those affected.
