20110409 – top security officials from Coast and North Eastern regions have resolved to increase security on the Kenya-Somalia border to ward off al-Shabaab extremists and other militants groups.

The team also recommended proper screening of aliens fleeing the war-torn country daily. The team comprising of Regional Commissioners Earnest Munyi (Coast) and James ole Serian (North Eastern), as well as Regional Police Commanders Aggrey Adoli (Coast) and Leo Nyongesa (North Eastern) also discussed security challenges facing the two regions.

An official privy to the meeting said the team further agreed on thorough patrols along the 800km porous Kenya–Somalia border that stretches from Kiunga in the Coast to Mandera in the North Eastern region.

According to the official, the meeting was convened because the two regions share common security problems. The team agreed on proper coordination of intelligence and community policing for the good flow of information between security agencies and the public.

In addition, the thorny issues of recruitment of youths into Somalia-based insurgency groups were raised during the meeting.

Fighting spilled over

Muslim leaders recently raised concerns over cases of youths at the Coast being targeted for recruitment by al-Shabaab.

Sheikh Hassan Omar Hassan of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) said that dozens of those recruited had died in the battle between the militants and the Transitional Federal Government’s forces.

Conflicts in Somalia have sometimes spilled over into some areas of North Eastern Region, causing deaths and injuries.