Nairobi — President Kibaki yesterday spoke out against mounting insecurity in parts of the country and warned that security agencies will deal firmly with those inciting trouble.

"Those inciting communities against each other are living in the past," he said.

He added: "All Kenyans have a right to live in peace and we will respond firmly against those who attempt to incite communities against each other for personal or political gain."

Speaking at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre where he officiated at the Kenya Revenue Authority's 2006 taxpayers day, President Kibaki said: "It is only in an environment of peace that individuals and communities can engage in productive activities to generate wealth and improve their livelihoods.

Police commissioner Mohamed Hussein Ali attended the meeting.

The Government has come under heavy criticism from the public and the Opposition over rising insecurity in Mathare, Kuresoi, Mt Elgon, Kuria, Molo and Marsabit and the apparent inability of security agencies to end the bloodshed.

Thousands have fled their homes and at least 40 people have been killed in violence-ravaged Mathare slums, Kuresoi, Molo, Laikipia and Mt Elgon in the past two months.

President Kibaki spoke a day after opposition politicians asked him to address the insecurity crisis in the country.

Langata MP Raila Odinga tours the Mathare slum yesterday in the company of Kasarani MP William Omondi and other leaders. Several people have died and hundreds displaced in clashes pitting two criminal gangs in the slum.

Shortly after President Kibaki spoke, Mr Michuki addressed a press conference at his Harambee House office and declared that the insecurity in parts of the country was not tribal clashes but "incidents of purely criminal nature."

He also dismissed suggestions that there was bad blood between him and Maj-Gen Ali, which has partly been blamed for the escalation of crime.

Mr Michuki said there were clear leadership structures in the security arms and they were coordinating to fight the mounting insecurity.

"I wish to confirm to Kenyans that Maj-Gen Ali and I work very closely and very well together," Mr Michuki declared in his written statement. Internal Security permanent secretary Cyrus Gituai was present.

Added the minister: "We have a very good relationship both at a personal and professional level."

"Let those implying that we do not see eye to eye know that their ploy to divide the security organs of this country will not work," the minister said.

Maj-Gen Ali walked into the press conference after Mr Michuki had finished reading his statement and was fielding questions from journalists.

After explaining that Maj-Gen Ali was delayed at the presidential function, Mr Michuki read again his statement on the portion it had dwelt on their perceived differences.

To drive his point home, Mr Michuki said: "I normally consult with the police commissioner two or three times a day and I don't have to call the press when I'm talking to him so that they can know that we consult on security issues."

Maj-Gen Ali said he had nothing to add to what the minister had said.

Mr Michuki said the incidents in Molo, Kuresoi and Mathare had their basis in criminal activities and not tribal disagreements.

He said the violence in Molo was sparked by a rape incident involving a seven-year-old girl.

In Kuresoi, he said, there were two skirmishes. One involved the theft of goats from a homestead and the rape of a 13-year-old girl.

On the Mathare violence, Mr Michuki said the cause was "a disagreement over illegal commercial ventures between criminal elements."

"All of these incidents were purely criminal in nature. We should therefore not just brand them tribal clashes or try to politicise them," he said.

He added: "Incidents of crime here and there do not mean that we do not have a security policy."

The minister said the Government would deal firmly with those causing trouble. " We will not allow people to suffer under the yoke of crime. We are declaring a total war against criminals," he said.

He said the squad of paramilitary General Service Unit, the regular police and the Administration police in Mathare will remain there for another one month until calm returned to the slum.

Another police squad will also be deployed in the crime-prone Dandora estate.

He asked residents of Mathare to return to their homes saying security had been beefed up.