NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 21 – The police department has reiterated
that Kenya will not relent in its war against terrorism and pointed out
that no amount of threats or methods employed will cow Kenyans.
The assurance comes amid reports of an imminent
attack from Al Shabaab militants who have warned of massive destruction
in Kenya during the holy month of Ramadhan.
“Despite a few cases where we have been hit and people have lost their
lives, Kenyans have remained patriotic and continue to support the
government in a bid to ensure this problem is resolved once and for
all,” deputy police spokesman Charles Owino said.
Owino stated that security has been beefed up in potential hot spots and measures put in place to counter any attempted attack.
“Their objective is to discourage us and make Kenyans feel miserable.
They attacked us in 1998 and we had not gone to Somalia. They attacked
us in Mombasa and still, we had not gone to Somalia so attacking us
because we have gone to provide peace to Somalia is just an excuse,” he
pointed out.
Nairobi Police Boss Anthony Kibuchi had warned that Al Shabaab
terrorists had issued threats that they will carry out massive
destruction during the month of Ramadhan and urged the public to remain
vigilant.
Security has been intensified mainly in Nairobi, Mombasa and border
towns where the terrorists are targeting in addition to government
installations and public places, including hotels.
The group has in the past months threatened to bring down Kenya’s
“tall glass buildings” after Kenyan troops crossed into Somalia last
October following a spate of attacks and abductions in its territory
that it blamed on the militants.
The warnings were first issued in May by a US-based private
intelligence firm IntelCenter, which reported that the militant group
had warned Kenyans that the country “will weep two weeks from now.”
The caution came two weeks after the May 28 attack on a Nairobi
building housing clothing retail stores that killed one person and
injured more than 30 others.
Al-Shabaab insurgents have launched a spate of attacks in Kenya,
mainly using grenades and it is believed that these are building up to a
larger attack.
On Wednesday last week, at least four people were wounded in twin grenade attacks in Wajir.
The latest attack by the Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab occurred at a restaurant and a shop in the town.
Tuimur said more officers had been deployed to patrol the region to keep the attackers away.
Security forces have become increasingly targeted by the terrorists,
mainly at the border towns. Some of the attacks have also occurred in
Nairobi.
Nairobi, Mombasa and towns in North Eastern Province have suffered
deadly attacks since late last year, resulting in dozens of deaths and
injuries.
The latest deadly attack occurred in Garissa three weeks ago when
suspected militants opened fire and hurled grenades inside two churches,
killing 18 people. (COURTECY OF CAPITAL NEWS)
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