11 November 2009
Nairobi — Kenya will continue to work with the international community in the fight against piracy to protect its tourism sector.
There should be no cause for alarm about trying suspected pirates on Kenyan soil, said Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh.
He said Kenya had signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU, the UK, the US and Northern Ireland, among others, committing itself to fight piracy and try suspects.
The MoU also allows for suspected pirates to be transferred to signatory countries for prosecution.
Mr Ojodeh was answering Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi (ODM) who had questioned the government's decision to allow suspected Somali pirates to be tried in Kenya. He also sought to know whether there were any benefits of doing so to the country.
He further wanted to know the security implications.
Kenya holds the highest number of piracy suspects who other nations have been hesitant to receive, citing security concerns.
An estimated 120 such people, 10 of them already convicted, are detained in Kenya.
Mr Ojodeh said Kenya would cooperate with the international community to curb piracy and that the government was acquiring motorboats equipped with the latest surveillance technology to boost security in territorial waters and along the Coast.
Mr Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti, PNU) said piracy was an international crime and Kenya should not bear the burden alone. "We are exposing our country to risk," said the MP.
But Mr Ojodeh said: "It is our burden. If we let piracy thrive then we should not expect our tourism to thrive."
Nominated MPs Sheikh Mohamad Dor (ODM) and Mohamed Affey (ODM-Kenya) wanted suspected pirates taken to affected countries for trial.
Mauritius recently declined to host a prison for piracy convicts.
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