FAILURE to pay bounty will undermine war against terrorism, newspaper says

 The Standard newspaper has urged the State to pay out the Sh60Million bounty it had promised for these who will give information leading to the arrest of three Kamiti Maximum Prison inmates who were classified as high-profile terrorists.

In its Editorial on November 22, the oldest newspaper in Kenya warns that failure to pay the bounty will injure government’s reputation and undermine the war against terrorism.

“Failure to pay the bounty would dent the government's reputation and undermine the war against terrorism”, writes the Standard editor.

The newspaper says that the award ceremony for bounty pay-out should be done under the glare of camera.

Some of the would-be beneficiaries are Kitui county residents who did not just give information to police but arrested the convicted terrorists.

The newspaper also suggests that other Kenyans who played other roles in the war against terrorism should get a piece of the pie.

Police respond to bounty pay push

While reassuring members of the public who helped police recapture the Kamiti Three, Police Spokesperson and Director of Corporate Communications Bruno Isohi Shioso issued a press statement on November 21 saying that the reward will be given to deserving citizens.

This will be after investigations are done on the matter which has seen several Kenyans give their version of how they helped in the manhunt.

“The Government intends to honour its pledge on the cash reward offer. This will, however, be subject to a due verification process to ensure the reward goes to deserving recipients”, says the Police Spokesperson.

Mr Paul Mwaniki, a Kitui resident led his fellow Endau Malalani residents in Kitui East sub county to arrest three convicted terrorists.

The terrorists were Musharraf Abdalla Akhulunga, Mohamed Ali Abikar and Joseph Juma Odhiambo.

Police Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai said that the trio was captured deep inside a forest and it was suspected they were attempting to go to Garissa and later cross the border to Somalia.

After massive manhunt, police captured the trio on Thursday near Kitui-Tana Ricer border.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI, EDITED By BONIFACE MWANIKI