Event:
Friday, September 11, 2015 Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary, Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Joseph Nkaisserry officially launched the Boni Enclave Multi Agency Initiative in Lamu.
The operation dubbed ‘#OperationLindaBoni’ is aimed at securing the vast Boni Forest that is found at the Kenya-Somalia border which has been used as hideout for the Al Shabaab militants using it as a pivot point to access other parts of Kenya.
Summary:
Joseph Nkaisserry, Kenya’s Interior cabinet secretary on Friday September 11, 2015 officially launched the Boni Enclave Multi Agency Initiative in Lamu.
Boni Enclave as defined in the gazette notice 93 include Holugho Border Point, Galmagala, Sangilu, Ijara, Bodhei, Milimani, Baurre, Basuba, Mangai, Malalani,Kiunga, Ishakani and Dar-es-Salaam Border Points.
The Operation Linda Boni is aimed at securing the vast Boni Forest situated at the Kenya-Somali border spreading into Somalia making it a favorable habitat for the Shebab who have been driven out of most of South Somalia.
They militants have used the Lacta Belt (Boni Forest) as an access point from where they move into most of parts of Kenya using it as an operational base. Due its rough terrain and its impenetrability they have thrived due to the risk of ambushes and fear of mines attacks on the security forces.
In his speech the Cabinet Secretary highlighted elaborated on some of the key aspects the socio-economic development programme that the operation seeks to implement.
The Multi Agency teams involved will carry out activities in Lamu, Garissa and Tana River Counties that will include:
- Infrastructure improvement; rehabilitation and construction of roads, schools and health centers
- Enhance Administration and National Police Service Units through:
- Bringing governance structures to the grassroots
- Uphold the rule of law, maintain security by increasing police presence in the areas
- Securing the borders and intercepting any trespassers
- Increase and improve communication network
- Safeguard Dodori National Reserve and Boni Forest
Additionally, for the initiative to be successful the government urged the cooperation of the local residents and the mutual coordination between the initiative teams and the locals to flash out the militants and secure Boni Forest and Kenya at large.
At last…… let it be even better than Mt. Elgon area…