The Westgate attack: Kenya...

Introduction

The recent Westgate mall attack perpetrated by the Al shabaab terrorists of Somalia has brought to the fore the status of safety, security and security apparatus in Kenya. People from diverse backgrounds; Muslims, Hindus and Christians alike, the young and the old were massacred in cold blood in the name of revenge by a terrorist gang that had warned Kenya long enough of impending attacks after Kenya decided in the October of 2011 to send its troops into Somalia in what was called "Operation protect the nation." Property of unknown value was destroyed and the longterm effect on the economy is going to be negative. This brings us to the following burning questions:

Questions that still linger over the Westgate mall attack:

1. Are our intelligence apparatus functioning and up to date with the task at hand?
2. Did they receive information on the attacks? And if so, why wasn't the information not used to curb the terrorist attack?
3. Are our security forces adequately trained?
4. Are our security forces adequately equipped with relevant and current technology, science and equipment to adequately combat crime?  
5. Do our security forces mutate with the ever changing crime waves?
6. Are our security forces adequately remunerated to ensure that they are satisfied and wouldn't be tempted by corruption?
7. Are our leader the reason why our security forces are in such a sorry state?
8. Are those leading the security forces equal to the task and competent to perform their duties?
9. How many terror gang members managed to escape?
   
10. What kind of equipment is procured for our security forces? and lastly,
11.  Are we safe and secure in this country?
    

The bottom line:
Following the events that unfolded on the fateful day and the way the country's security forces responded, it is clear that our security forces are ill trained, ill equipped, ill remunerated and this makes them react to security situations.  Should we choose to continue this way, then we'll continue to lose innocent lives and hard earned property and this will affect the economy negatively. One sign of a failed security system is the inability to act on intelligence and surveillance data on time in order to identify and detect criminals before they commit their crimes.

Since the attack, there has been no serious action to ensure there is safety and security in this country- all we hear in the media is pure 'lip service' and the call for every Kenyan neighbours to know one another. Only time will tell if measures were taken to prevent a repeat of such an event but for the moment, "Be vigilant because you are your own security".