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{
    "id": 401124,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/401124/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 177,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Haji",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 26,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Mohammed Haji",
        "slug": "yusuf-haji"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Speaker, Sir. On 26th September, 2013, Sen. Billow Kerrow requested for a statement regarding the attack at the District Officer’s (DOs) Headquarters in Mandera Town by a heavily armed militia where one administration police officer was killed and four others were injured. The hon. Senator wanted to be informed on, one; the action that the Government has taken with regard to the incident and in particular whether there are any suspects that have been arrested with regard to the incident and other previous incidences. Two, he wanted to know whether the incident has any linkage to the Westgate Mall tragedy and, three, what action or strategy the Government has put in place to deal with the deteriorating security situation in Mandera and the reason for that. I would like to state as follows. On 27th September, 2013, at about 3.00 am, suspected Al Shabaab militia attacked the Administration Police camp situated in the precincts of the County Assistant Commissioner’s Office compound in Garissa Town. A fierce gunfire exchange ensued between the attackers and the police officers. Unfortunately, two police officers were killed while two others were injured. A three office block was extensively destroyed while 12 vehicles, three of them Government owned were also damaged. No suspects have been arrested in connection with this particular incident and even the previous incidences. This has been occasioned by the community members’ unwillingness to volunteer information to the security agents and the fact that these militias usually cross back into Somalia immediately after the attack. Though the Westgate Mall and the Commissioner’s Office attack happened in different places and times, both incidences are suspected to be perpetuated by the Al Shabaab militia. Following the incident, the Government has applied the following methods to address insecurity in the area. One, more police officers have been deployed in order to upscale beats and patrols. Two, several security meetings have been conducted to sensitize people on the need to be vigilant and to cooperate with security officers in fighting crime through volunteering information. Three, intelligence information gathering has been intensified. Four, the Government has deployed officers drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU) and the Rapid Border Patrol Unit along the border in order to deter foreign militia from crossing over the border. To address the insecurity in Mandera County and the country at large, the Government has, one; established a taskforce to operationalise the Nyumba Kumi and Community Policing Strategy which are aimed at enhancing security. Two, the Government has recruited 7,000 security officers who are currently undergoing training in various colleges. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}