Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has warned that organised criminal gangs, including groups involved in violence and intimidation, could evolve into violent extremist and terrorist organisations if their activities are not closely monitored. Mudavadi said communities and security agencies must increase vigilance to prevent criminal gangs from expanding, becoming entrenched and threatening national security. Speaking during the inauguration of the Kenya Counter-Terrorism Hotline in Nairobi on Thursday, Mudavadi linked the growing presence of organised criminal gangs to the need for stronger community surveillance and security cooperation. “The growth of organized criminal gangs including goons, calls for heightened vigilance and monitoring by communities and the security agencies,” Mudavadi said. “These gangs must not be allowed to expand or become entrenched, as they can easily evolve from petty crime into violent extremism.” The Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary said authorities should closely examine the activities of gangs that terrorise communities, undermine state institutions and threaten democratic processes. He raised questions about whether some groups involved in such activities should continue to be treated solely as criminal gangs or whether their conduct could warrant consideration under terrorism-related frameworks. “This raises a fundamental...
This page contains an attributed headline and the preview text supplied through the publisher’s RSS feed. Copyright in the original reporting belongs to KBC.
