President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, December 12, 2010. Security for Jamhuri Day celebrations is tight. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI
By FRED MUKINDA fmukinda@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, December 11 2011 at 00:26
Posted Sunday, December 11 2011 at 00:26
Security has been raised to new levels ahead of Monday's Jamhuri Day celebrations. The move is meant to guard against possible terrorist attacks.
Police took over Nyayo Stadium on Friday as they moved to ensure that security would be at the highest levels at the venue from which President Kibaki will address the nation.
Nairobi provincial commissioner Njoroge Ndirangu said on Saturday the stadium would remain off-limits for non-security personnel until 8 am on Monday when the grounds will be opened to the public.
“There are no new (terror) threats, but all along there have been threats and so we can’t take any chances. There has been deployment of specialised officers who will remain there until the end of the event,” he said.
Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militia, which is responsible for a number of recent deadly explosions in parts of the country, is the greatest security threat facing Kenya today.
Convicted Al-Shabaab terrorist Elgiva Bwire, alias Mohamed Seif, was at Nyayo stadium during Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20 and was arrested a week later after police raided his house. A cache of weapons including 13 grenades was recovered.
He was arrested in connection with a grenade lobbed at a crowded matatu terminus near OTC bus stage in Nairobi that killed a man and injured several others. He was jailed for life after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Deputy police spokesman Charles Owino said an area around the stadium would be secured and those attending the celebrations would be frisked before entering.
The event is scheduled to start at 10 am after President Kibaki arrives at the stadium, after which all gates will be closed.
“For security reasons, Kenyans are urged to arrive at the stadium early, at least one hour before the scheduled time,” said Mr Ndirangu.
The PC is expected to divulge further security measures today that could include closure of some city streets and roads to normal traffic.
Vehicles will also be checked by security officers before being allowed into designated parking bays near the stadium.
The police team in charge of security around the city held a briefing session on Saturday.
The final security plan was formulated on Friday by the city’s intelligence and security committee headed by Mr Ndirangu.
City police chiefs from the regular and administration police as well as senior intelligence officers attended the meeting.
Mr Owino also said surveillance would be extended to other public places.
The security measures will also include intensified patrols by police officers on foot and in vehicles.
Many other plainclothes officers will also be deployed to keep watch around the city.
“There are times we have received threats from Al-Shabaab because of our operation in Somalia, and that means we are going to be extra vigilant. We’ve ensured that every Kenyan will be safe on that day,” he said.
Al-Shabaab carried out some attacks in October after Kenya sent troops to Somalia to pursue the militants.
“The security measures are not meant to inconvenience anyone, but to ensure that people with evil intentions do not take advantage,” said Mr Ndirangu.
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