Kenya should safeguard the gains of “operation linda nchi’’.

Dr  Nene  opined that  the on-going operation  by the Kenya defense  forces  in Somalia  was  a ‘miscalculation’ (Daily Nation, Wednesday,  26^thOct 2011)  while  appreciating  the significance  of his arguments,  I  beg to  differ.

The   decision by  Kenya  to fight Al-shabaab at their  home  turf  was a last  resort  option  Kenya  could  not take the  slighting  by the  Al-shabaab  militia  any longer.

It must  be  remembered  that  Kenya  has  sacrificed  a lot   inorder   to  accommodate  a lawless  Somalia for the last two  decades . Kenya, Igad  and  the African  union  have  put  up appreciable diplomatic  efforts  to restore  sanity inn the horn  of Africa nation.

Several times, Nairobi went out of her way to create some semblance of order in the war-torn nation, without any thanks from the feuding warlords. In one  particularly embarrassing  meeting  in Nairobi, the Somali  leaders  quarreled  over   payment  of their  allowances  in public view, betraying  their   ineptitude  towards  restoring  law  and order in Somalia.  One gets the feeling that some people are benefiting from the lawlessness   in Somalia and will go to any length to sabotage any engagement aimed at social-economic.

It   should not  escape  the  notice  of  the  international  community that  Kenya is host to thousands of  Somalia   refugees sometimes at the expense of  her  social-economic  stability.

In the ensuing shenanigans among Somalia clan leaders, the country has become a wasteland ,a haven   for terrorist  groups like the Al –shabaab. Kenya has suffered losses following  a number of  attacks by the terrorist  group .the international  community agrees that Kenya was justified in invoking article 51 of the  UN charter to defend the integrity of her territory from the misadventures of Al-shabaab.

Kenya must however think of ways of safeguarding the gains achieved in the military operation. It will be important to deal with militia a deadly blow this time. War against a terrorist group is not conventional at all. We are facing an enemy who may have no respect for international conventions on war. Due to the wooly nature of terrorists, it might be difficult to tell when the objectives of the attack are achieved. Unless such a war is informed by sufficient intelligence resources, it may be hazy and at worst, self defeating. One can only hope that Kenya was careful to incorporate reliable allies in the incursion. The defeat of a terror group is the victory of all peace- loving people.

The second strategic issue that Kenya should consider is how to fill the void left behind once the defense forces exit from Somalia. It is gratifying to learn that the incursion will extend over a considerable amount of time. It is obvious that opportunists are watching from a distance to take advantage of a Somalia without Al shabaab. Kenya should consider the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as a strategic partner in the Somalia operation. In this regard, the operation received a boost when Uganda and Burundi announced plans to increase their troops under AMISOM.

Kenya and African Union should cultivate goodwill among the Somali public. Probably time has come for the African Union to demand some sense of credibility from the fledgling Transitional Federal Government, TFG. At the end of the day, nobody can guarantee long lasting peace for Somalia except the Somali people themselves.

One cannot but question the wisdom behind Kenya’s open-border policy with a failed state. Kenya should take urgent measures to secure her porous border with Somalia. While creating a buffer region along the Kenyan border may help,it cannot substitute the responsibility of Kenya to secure her borders. The refugees crossing into Daadab should be screened to ensure that Daadab is free of international terrorists. Kenya and UNHCR should not appear to conflict over this issue. It would also be important for Kenya, Igad and UNHCR to redistribute the 500,000 Somali refugees currently in Daadab camp either to other countries or to the safer areas of southern Somalia.

When the Kenyan community in the Northern Kenya complains of economic marginalization, Nairobi should pay attention. More budgetary allocations should be directed to that part of the country to make it more habitable. What comes to mind is irrigation-based agriculture, wind mills, slaughter houses, and of course roads. There is empirical evidence that economic growth of an area improves its security. To secure the country, Kenya must show a greater concern for the northern frontier district.

At the UN level, Kenya should agitate for the declaration of a no fly zone over Somalia and the imposition of a naval blockade on Somalia’s vast coastline. This is especially important in the port city of Kismayu which has been the life-line of the al shabaab.

There is no doubt that this war can be won with the full cooperation of the international community. When history is written, Kenya will be celebrated for having taken the first step towards stabilising Somalia.

(Sammyfrank is a student of international studies at the University of Nairobi. This article was written on 27^th October 2011.Some developments may have occurred that may render parts of the article to appear to have been overtaken by events. My sincere regrets)