Another Security Issue!

Last night, Jonathan and I are watching a movie when suddenly we hear screams, screech of tires and what sounded like "commotion". We raced to the balcony in time to see a saloon car screech up the hill and head out of our gate. Simultaneously, we see a haphazardly parked SUV right below our apartment block (we are on the 3rd floor) parked right at the edge, kids and a woman jumping out and fleeing behind the buildings. By this time, most of our neighbors are also on their balcony's wondering what the hell just happened.

The SUV belongs to one of my neighbors, Beatrice Kones, MP in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Evidently, she was on her way home and noticed a car behind her but didn't think that there was any need to worry as the car had red plates (license plates usually given to foreign consuls, UN diplomats, etc). When the guards opened the gate for her, the other car was still trailing behind. As she maneuvers into her regular spot, two guys with guns suddenly jump out of the saloon car and are at the driver and passenger windows in seconds. She said they spoke good Swahili and they seemed calm and confident. Next thing she knew, she backed out of her spot in a frenzy, started screaming and drove down to the hill to the end of our complex (which is a very short distance, say 30 yards). She and her passengers jumped out and ran behind the buildings to hide from the perps. Meanwhile, unbeknown to her, one of the guards is on the floor at the mercy of a guy pointing a gun to his head. The other guard, in a panic, had taken off to hide behind the buildings. When Kones asked him whether he had a panic button he indicated that the guards had nothing to alert the security service nor the police. WOW...There was one nagging thought though - where the hell was her security detail? One of the residents allegedly claims that she had seen the "GK" security vehicle about two hours earlier. Curious. I know most of the residents share my sentiment that Kones better use her office to take care of this problem. According to her ministry's home page, their objectives are to:
- Improve the supervision, rehabilitation and resettlement of offenders
- Facilitate the administration of justice
- Regulate and control the Gaming Industry
- Contain offenders in safe custody

The good part of this story is that everyone is alive and no one was hurt in the ordeal. However, it raises yet another issue about the security in Nairobi. If you have been following Martin's story (previous post) you are aware that the march was successful and garnered the response of the press, police as well as Prof. George Saitoti, Minister of State for Provincial Administration & Internal Security. He met with the parents of the deceased and promised them that the government was working on apprehending the culprits as well as working the crime zones and replacing street lights. It was also reported that 40 suspects had been rounded up in connection with the case. I'm not even going to comment on these alleged suspects because we all know that the police probably rounded up 40 idlers in the city center so that it would look like there was really an investigation going on. Kenyans don't want promises, they want ACTION. Kenyans want to know that they can count on their government to keep them safe at all times. We shouldn't have to take to the streets so that our grievances can be heard.