Hundreds of security officers have for the last five years either quit their jobs or submitted letters of resignation.
The officers, mainly from the Kenya Defence Forces, say they leave the service due to frustration, poor working conditions and “unfounded accusations of being terrorists sympathisers”.
This comes as the National Intelligence Service and the military intelligence wing are said to be closely monitoring officers, mainly Muslims, over alleged radicalisation in security facilities.
It has been learnt that this continues to cause deep resentment and suspicion between junior and senior officers. Security analysts have called this situation dangerous and a “ticking time bomb”.
‘They don’t trust us’
“You know, my friend, we serve this country with dedication. But it is disheartening to be branded a terror sympathiser and enemy within,” an officer, who applied to resign said.
“Military commanders cannot trust us anymore. At one time, we were sent to a border town for an operation to flush out al Shabaab. But four colleagues and I were called back to Nairobi without explanation,” the officer added.
They later learned they were recalled because they “would not conduct the operation properly”.
Military officers are not allowed to resign until they serve for 10 years. Desertion attracts severe penalties, including court martial.
Officers said after the January 15 El Adde attack in Somalia, one KDF officer of Somali origin was “unjustly” accused of setting up his colleagues in the Amisom base, leading to the death of about 200 soldiers.
Other officers were “sidelined” after the Operation Linda Nchi where KDF crossed to Somalia in 2011.
“Many of us are at the front line defending this nation. We served in the most dangerous assignments in Somalia, for instance. But, we are suspected of having links with terrorists. This is not good for comrades,” he said.
A mosque in a major military camp within the city is being monitored and lectures closely followed, he said.
“Such behaviour won’t advance this country’s interests. It only breeds insecurity and creates loopholes in fighting against the enemy,” he said.