Haji defends NIS, spells out hurdles agency is facing in terrorism war

THE director general of the National Intelligence Service Noordin Haji has defended the institution, asserting that it operates within the law.

“Most of these matters are in court, and it would not be prudent for me to comment on them,” Haji stated during his first-ever public lecture held at the National Intelligence and Research University (NIRU).

He reassured Kenyans NIS will always fulfill its constitutional mandate in accordance with the law.

Haji was responding to claims by Macharia Gaitho, the Daily Nation columnist, that a unit under the Directorate of Criminal Investigations was responsible for abductions kidnappings and killings.

He also highlighted the challenges NIS faces in combating cybercrime, noting that the owners of some of the most popular apps are foreigners.

The DG criticised existing cybercrime laws as inadequate for the Kenyan context, stating, “In the US, all you have to do is cross the road to get evidence. We have applied that same high threshold, but when we contact Facebook or other applications, what attention do they give us? We are stuck.”

General Charles Kahariri, Chief of General Staff, emphasised the importance of professional intelligence services for state stability, particularly in combating emerging threats.

He noted, “Multi-agency intelligence operations have enabled us to combat various crimes, especially terrorism.”

The role of citizens in enhancing security was also underscored, with calls for vigilance and cooperation with authorities.

“Kenya is a functional state within the international system, contributing to global security,” Kahariri said, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to achieve peace and stability, particularly concerning regional allies like Ethiopia.

Haji raised concern over the insecurity and instability in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the eastern DRC In Sudan, the armed forces are battling the rebel rapid Support Forces, while in the neighbouring South Sudan, political and security tensions are escalating, with the UN warning that the country risks sliding into a civil war.

“Our great republic is surrounded by states grappling with conflicts and tense inter-state relations resulting in disrupted trade, an influx of migrants and cross-border crimes. These developments are severely straining our resources and hindering our efforts to promote regional integration and advance peace diplomacy,” Haji said.

Among the developments he listed are the conflicts in the Ethiopian regions of Oromia, Amhara and Tigray, which he noted have heightened the risk of fragmentation of the country.

He warned that the protracted Oromo Liberation Army conflict in Oromia Region, which borders Marsabit county, risks an influx of refugees to Kenya.

Haji said this is likely to result in resource competition with host communities, further worsening the security complexities in upper eastern region.

“Noteworthy, the OLA elements and Al-Shabaab are symbiotically leveraging their networks in areas along the Kenya-Ethiopia border in smuggling of arms, narcotics and facilitation of recruits,” he said.

The looming resurgence of conflicts in Tigray region, the Intelligence chief noted, risks igniting inter-state war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which could compound the already dire situation in the Horn of Africa.