PRESS RELEASE: Establishing a Culture of Peace and Security

May 31 2007

A KCA Statement

The security of a country determines the level of confidence local and foreign investors have in key sectors of an economy. When the state of a country's security appears badly compromised, and numbers of reckless killings by organized criminal gangs continue to climb unabated, it undermines a country's standing in human rights quarters and the global market.

Equally, it is unacceptable for petty warlords to destroy the progress of a country that has begun to show the way in the democratization of political space in Africa. The vicious circle of violence and greed that tends to erupt intermittently is a badge of shame Kenya must not be associated with. Kenya's election year must be marked by peace, stability and a democratic process worth emulating across the continent. Kenyans abroad will not stand by and see one more innocent mwananchi killed.

It is in cognizance of these factors that The Kenyan Community Abroad (KCA) calls for the Minister in charge of Internal Security and the Commissioner of Police to move swiftly and contain the current rise in the level of insecurity and crime in Kenya.

KCA notes that a section of political leaders have already been questioned by police over recent killings by members of the outlawed Mungiki sect. What we call for though, are holistic measures to contain the many dangerous criminal sects that cause unnecessary loss of lives. We also call on local leaders, especially MPs to be the first to rise up in condemnation of violence against the people they have been chosen to represent. Silence is construed as compliance.

Criminals and their sponsors must be apprehended and brought to book in accordance with the dictates of the law, no matter their position in society. Additionally, we propose that government invests heavily in modernization and efficiency of the police force.

We champion the idea of effective tools to police, good housing and sound remuneration. We believe these are pre-requisites to effective, efficient and professional performance by the police

KCA will maintain dialogue with national and international bodies dealing with human rights to help posit permanent solutions to the crime rate in Kenya.

Mkawasi Mcharo
President, KCA
KCA Executive
Washington, DC