Monday, January 2, 2012

Red alert declared



By Standard Team
Kenyans ushered in the New Year amid heightened security and a warning to remain vigilant against the terrorists targeting public gatherings and strategic installations.
On Sunday Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said security personnel would remain on a high alert despite the end of the festive season.
"The Al Shabaab continues to threaten our peace. They have destroyed Somalia and now want to destroy us. We will destroy them," Saitoti said after attending New Year mass at Holy Family Basilica.
A reveller assists her colleague out of the ill-fated Locas Pub in Garissa town. Kenyans have been warned to remain vigilant against terrorists targeting public gatherings and strategic installations [PHOTO: REUTERS]
New Year celebrations in Garissa were dulled by an attack that left five five people dead on the first day of 2012.
Elsewhere, Kenyans partied and prayed throughout the night in what is popularly called kesha in Swahili language seeking blessings in the New Year.
But amid partying and worship, security remained heightened as Christians ushered in the New Year in their places of worship.
The Standard covered several spots where Nairobi faithful were subjected to thorough scrutiny before they were allowed entry into churches for New Year prayers.
At Holy Family Basilica, the usual New Year’s eve overnight prayers were cancelled for security reasons. Also called off for the same reason was the scheduled Groove Awards Party at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
At the Anglican All Saints Cathedral, services started late, but brave faithful turned up for the night prayers due to what many churchgoers attributed to security threats.
But at the Nairobi Pentecostal Church Valley Road, it was a full House as Christians sang and danced to usher in the New Year.
Presiding Bishop David Oginde urged Kenyans to have courage and faith in their nation and security apparatus saying, "this is our country and we should not fear Al Shabaab, but instead volunteer information to police that will help them deal firmly with the threats."
At the church security was beefed up and police kept vigil as faithful were frisked, unlike before.
Catholic Archbishop John Cardinal Njue marked the New Year Mass when he opened a new church in Kiambu.
The Archbishop, who was celebrating New Year Mass at St Christopher Thindigwa Church said "this is a day of peace and Kenyans must cultivate the culture of accepting diversity without leaning on tribes or political affiliations.
"There is need to create responsibility. We condemn the killings in Isiolo and in the same vein voice our concerns on the Garissa terror attacks and pray for the families of the dead to overcome," said Njue.
The prelate noted that more needs to be done to make Kenya a cohesive society and prayed for a peaceful General Election this year.
Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala led faithful in mass at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, and prayed for a peaceful 2012, urging Kenyans to have faith in God, saying the country was at a decisive moment in its history.
Ill timed
Wabukala took a swipe at trade unionists for calling for a strike during the Christmas period, saying it was ill timed and ill advised.
"This is an election year, but I urge Kenyans to elect leaders wisely and avoid tribalism. Kenyans need hope to cross to the Promised Land. In Rwanda and Israel people do not refer to tribes," Wabukala said in his New Year sermon.
Bishop Margaret Wanjiru of Jesus is Alive Ministries led a houseful of faithful, including Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa, in prayers and urged Kenyans to thank God for seeing them through a trying year.
"This is a tough year for my fellow MPs because we have a lot of Bills to pass to fully operationalise the new Constitution," said the Assistant minister for Housing.
Kenyans crossed into 2012 after a tough year in which the country was hit by high inflation rates and biting drought and constantly lived under threat of terrorist attacks witnessed in cases of explosions.
The Government banned firework displays making the occasion less colourful and denying it the pomp it is normally associated with. The ban was linked to terror threats.
The attacks in Garissa came as security was heightened in major towns over fears of terror attacks.
Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere said they had beefed up security in most areas and vowed to get those behind the attack.
No arrest has been made in connection with the attack, the latest in a series witnessed in the area. Police said on Saturday they were looking for 15 people whom they said had information on al Shabaab.
The injured were admitted to a hospital in Garissa with multiple injuries. Police said some of them had bullet wounds.
Iteere said he believed the attackers are sympathisers of Somalia’s Al Shabaab.
"We will not be tired. Let them be told we are determined to ensure safety of the country and Kenyans at large," said Iteere.
The attack in Garissa came hours after police foiled what they termed a planned terrorist attack in Lamu by the militant group.
Police killed three suspected members of the militant group and recovered three AK 47 rifles, over 400 bullets and two speedboats the suspects were using in their operation. Two suspects escaped.
Intelligence reports indicated the men planned to raid a hotel in the Coast and take residents hostage.
Among the deceased was an Administration Police officer attached to Balambala Station.
"Had the grenades landed on the dancing floor as the criminals wanted, things could be worse," said a senior officer in the area.
Elsewhere, Nairobi residents celebrated the New Year in various spots with KTN Television welcoming 15 groups of artists to entertain viewers through live performances and prayers at the Standard Group Centre.
Revelers also followed live proceedings on TV as they wined and dined at various nightspots and churches.
In Kisumu, residents ushered in the New Year with celebrations in different styles.
Some opted to mark it with partying, while others went for prayers in churches.
Kisumu deputy OCPD Muthuri Mwongera, said no major cases were reported in the lakeside town.
Social places and churches were filled to capacity, in various parts within the city and they were marked with dances and joyous celebration for crossing over to the New Year.
Pastor Amos Ligawa, of Winners Chapel Kisumu, officiated a night vigil at the church.
Bishop Mathews Akwino, of the African Affairs Mission Church, urged Kenyans to exercise peace in the New Year as the General Elections approach.
Moi Stadium Kisumu, which hosted a three-day prayer meeting led by Prophet David Owuor of the Repentance and Holiness Church, was filled to capacity with thousands of people.
In Kitale, religious leaders from Trans-Nzoia and Pokot Counties urged Kenyans to embrace forgiveness and foster peace to enable the country achieve development.
Led by Kitale Catholic Church Bishop Maurice Crowley, the clerics asked Kenyans to accommodate and forgive each other for a united country.
Bishop Crowley challenged the political leadership to advocate for the unity of all Kenyans and shun divisive politics.
In Kakamega town, it was a beehive of activities throughout the night as residents thronged their favourite spots to welcome the New Year.
The town’s popular night joints — Club Franka, Westlife, Golf Hotel and Club Vodka Martini — were jammed with revellers drawn from as far as Mumias and Malava.
"I have never seen anything like this. Even getting a customer some space to stand was impossible," said Samson Mwangi, the proprietor of Franka.
Churches, which included Kakamega Jesus Praise Centre, Kakamega Fellowship and Anglican Church of Kenya, were also fully packed.
In Busia town, residents ushered in the New Year in different joints with majority opting to end 2011 and begin 2012 in church.
Revellers crossed the Kenya-Uganda border searching for places to happily spend their time.

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