Terrorism, banditry top Haji in-tray as the new spy chief

The new Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Noordin Haji who was sworn in yesterday takes office with a full in-tray, and will be immediately expected to deal with the surge in terror attacks and political instability.

The other challenges are religious cultism, cattle rustling, emerging cyber and transnational crimes among others.

Despite the acquisition of security equipment and the multi-agency approach to dealing with terrorism in the country, there has been an increase in such attacks.

On Tuesday alone, eight officers were killed in Bodhei at the border of Lamu and Garissa counties after their vehicle ran over a landmine as they were while conducting a mobile patrol.

The vehicle they were travelling in ran over a landmine, killing them on the spot.

Another separate attack was also reported the same day near Mararani in Kiunga, Lamu county where suspected members of the Al Shabaab militia attacked security officers using a rocket propelled grenade.

On June 7, two other police officers were also killed after an armoured vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an explosive a near the Kenya-Somalia border.

The other challenge will be to ensure the realization of the planned reopening of the Kenya-Somali border points.

Reopen border points

The attacks pose a major test to both countries which had planned to reopen the border points -which were closed twelve years ago due to the threat of terrorism -in phases, within the next three months.

Both governments say the reopening would ensure resumption of trade between the two countries, facilitate movement of people and promote sustainable development between the two countries.

The border points were closed in 2011 at the height of constant invasion and attacks masterminded by the Al-Shabaab terror group. The failure to realize meaningful success in the North Rift banditry operations has partly been attributed to lack of proper intelligence.

Some of the intelligence from the Service have not been timely, appropriate, accurate and actionable and to succeed he will have to deal with that.

Gathering intelligence

During his vetting in Parliament Haji admitted that there were challenges in gathering intelligence in some parts of the country.

As a result, he recommended that going forward, recruitment to the NIS will be relooked into to cater for low cadre officers who can gather intelligence even from the remote and far flung areas.

The new spymaster will be expected to build on the diversity on the human resource so that it reflects the threats the country is likely to face. To achieve this, he will also be expected to refocus on how intelligence is collect not just on technology, but also through face to face, sources and informers.

Haji will also deal with the issue of extra-judicial killings in which some of the officers from NIS have been implicated. Complaints against NIS officers have not been effectively investigations and he will have to make the service more accountable and professional.

He should, as soon as practicable, operationalize the Intelligence Service Complaints Board that is tasked with receiving and inquiring into complaints against the Service, the DG or any member of the Service.

The Shakahola cult massacre was due to lack of timely intelligence. NIS also has to view extremism differently, also considering Christians and Hindus. Haji now becomes the principal advisor to the President and Government on national security, responsible for the overall management and administration of the Service, and participate in the formulation of national intelligence policy and strategy.

As the head of State, President William Ruto chairs the National Security Council (NSC), a body established under Article 240 of the Constitution, to exercise supervisory control over national security organs.

The council consists of Cabinet Secretaries for Defence, Foreign Affairs and Interior, and the Chief of Defence Forces, NIS boss and the Inspector General of Police.

He is also expected to guard against misuse, leakage or reckless use of intelligence for propaganda as was the case before.