America is a threat to our security

An opinion by Eric Sindabi

RECENTLY the National Security Committee that was chaired by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga held a crucial meeting over the Somalia crisis that threatens to infuriate Kenya . It shows a great national concern over the insecurity that is being caused by the emergency in the neighboring country.

However a critical view is the fact that the root matter of the situation is the United States of America factor in the Somalia crisis. The fact that Kenya is and will ever be linked to the US in many ways is the paradox never the less. For instance, the current President of USA Mr.Barrack Obama has roots in Kenya . It is a matter of unease for example therefore that his government’s commitment to continue fighting terrorism across the world can have a bearing on our heads given to the situation in Somali.

It rekindles sad memories of the terrorism attacks on Kenya some time back by the al-Qaeda terror group that purportedly targets countries allied to the United States of America . The rivalry between the fugitive terrorist Osama Bin Laden the perceived sponsor of al-Qaeda, and America indeed has proved a great threat to our security.
In August 1998 the bombing of the US Embassy in Kenya along side the neighboring Tanzania killed 224 people. In November 2002 a suicide attack on a tourist Hotel owned by an American killed 16 people.

The US has charged that the Al-Shabaab militia group that is responsible for the upsurge in Somalia has links with al-Qaeda. The militia groups on the other hand have repeatedly and openly warned to attack any group or country that supports America and the Somali government. It is to this fact that the National Security Committee should keep vigil and steer Kenya off the feud between USA and terror groups.

The insecurity condition within and around our borders thus has become a matter of great alarm. The government should iron out the real situation and come out openly to assure Kenyans about their security. The head of State in particular should address the nation and assure of his constitutional commitment towards safeguarding Kenya's sovereignty and lives of citizens. Indeed the mention of another terrorist attack in our midst sends cold shivers on the back of every innocent Kenyan. It is unfortunate that innocent Kenyans or rather countries should bear the brand of a perceived war between America and Terror groups.