Red alert over terror

By PHILIP MWAKIO and CYRUS OMBATI

Al Shabaab has warned of impending terror attacks on Kenyan cities as government issues a high security alert and ordered measures tightening safety at Coast and Nairobi ahead of Easter celebrations starting Friday.

Just hours after the Coastal attack at a prayer group and revellers at an entertainment join, which alone serves to show the vulnerability of Kenyans in the face of the footloose enemy, Al Shabaab warned its attacks would continue until Kenya Defence Forces pull out of Somalia.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga leads Cabinet ministers and medical officials in consoling a survivor of Saturday terror attack in Mombasa at Coast General Hospital on Sunday. [PHOTO: Maarufu Mohamed/STANDARD]

In a press statement issued from their Mogadishu base, the terror group warned: "The Kenyan public must be aware that the more Kenyan troops continue to persecute innocent Muslims of Somalia, the less secure Kenyan cities will be; and the more oppression the Muslims of Somalia feel, the more constricted Kenyan life will be."

The statement further warned: "Your security depends on our security. It is a long, protracted war and Kenyans must neither harbour a reason for optimism nor hope for triumph."

Without conceding whether the Coastal attacks were its own operation as claimed by Kenya, Al Shabaab went on: "The deteriorating insecurity in Kenyan cities is an embodiment of Kenya’s misguided policies that place foreign interests above its national interests and the security of Western nations above the security of its citizens, thereby wasting the lives of its men and its resources for no real gain."

Bloody attacks

The government unveiled the new measures as it linked the latest bloody attacks at the Coast to Somalia’s Al Shabaab militia, which KDF is pursuing along with Somalia’s Transitional National Government’s army, but now under the umbrella of African Union Mission in Somalia.

To demonstrate how serious the government is taking the latest threat to national security, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere’s deputy, Francis Okonya, flew to Mombasa on one plane to comfort the injured, mourn the death of an innocent Kenyan, and assess the new threat to the country.

"Our police have unearthed very crucial evidence which we cannot share publicly. They are following very good leads as they try to arrest those behind these heinous acts,’’ the PM revealed.

In Nairobi, Iteere declared to the nation: "We have mobilised all units to be on Red Alert now as we inch closer to Easter Holidays."

At the back of the minds of security chiefs and the government officials must have been the other threat in the region — Mombasa Republic Council, the armed militia that has threatened chaos in the region in pursuit of what they claim the stolen rights of the Coastal people and as a result, secession.

Taking no chances after the Saturday blasts in Mombasa and responding to rising anxiety in the country over increasing number of terror incidents, security chiefs and top government officials sought to give Kenyans a secure and calm Easter weekend. This is because they not only saw the attacks that claimed one life and maimed 30 others as early warning that Christian festivities over Easter may be targeted, as well as the huge number of visitors expected in Nairobi over the period.

Iteere added: "We request Kenyans to be equally watchful and report any suspicious people or movements. It is our duty to protect lives and property."

Sunday, Special Programmes minister Esther Murugi, Tourism Minister Dan Mwazo, Fisheries Development Minister Amason Kingi and Coast Provincial Commissioner Mr Ernest Munyi also visited the Mtwapa blast site and the injured lying at the Coast Provincial General Hospital. They also went to View Stadium Bar & Restaurant where one of the blasts took place.

Saitoti said the militants were responsible for the attacks and vowed to crush them. "We will use all resources available to eliminate this terror group. Let Kenyans be alert always," Saitoti, said in Mombasa. His announcement allayed fears that the Mombasa Republican Council could be behind the attacks.

On Saturday evening suspected terrorists hurled a grenade at a well-attended Christian crusade in Mtwapa town on Saturday evening in the first incident. In the second assault within Mombasa town, an explosive was thrown at revellers at a pub seriously injuring two patrons.

"Al Shabaab have destroyed Somalia and they have now infiltrated our country. We are, however, not going to relent and will purse them until we eliminate them completely," Saitoti vowed.

Raila and Saitoti visited the victims at the hospital and cautioned MRC to stop misleading Kenyans adding that their threats to secede is not a solution to their grievance.

At the same time, Raila dismissed MRC’s clarion call Pwani Si Kenya (Coast is not Kenya) as misplaced. "There are other regions which are equally marginalised in Kenya like Turkana, Garissa and Mandera. It is only prudent that the government be allowed to engage with aggrieved parties to solve all forms of perceived injustice," Raila advised.

He argued MRC’s talk of secession stemmed from a defeatist attitude.

"Only a coward can resort to such avenues to settle longstanding disputes. We are ready to engage them and help find a lasting solution," the PM promised.

innocent civilians

"We are approaching Easter and we expect to see many visitors flocking the Coast and Mtwapa in particular. The government would want to ensure people’s way of life is not interfered with in any way," Kingi said.

Murugi described the attacks on innocent civilians as acts of cowardice and urged tourists not to shun Mombasa because the government was determined to ensure safety of all.

Kingi who is also MP for Magarini told residents not to despair over the attack as the government was serious about ensuring there was no recurrence.

According to security insiders, focus has been shifted to a number of Muslim schools known as Madrassa and mosques where some preachers have allegedly been advocating violent attacks.

Red Cross Tracing and Psychosocial support desk set up at the Coast Provincial General Hospital reported a total of 33 casualties had been received; 31 from Mtwapa and two from Tononoka. They included a boy and a girl aged 12 and 11 respectively.

One adult was confirmed dead at Coast Provincial General Hospital, and was yet to be identified. Four were taken to theatre, one to Intensive Care Unit, six were discharged but some were still in the general wards.

More officers have been deployed to the Likoni Ferry Channel where an attack is feared while other installations have received more security surveillance.

Police revealed the terror attack threats have been in place since December. Saturday’s terror attack increased the tally of blasts that have occurred in the last six months when Kenyan troops entered Somalia.

Several suspects have, however, been arrested and questioned before being released. The last blast occurred at Nairobi Country Bus terminus, popularly known as Machakos on March 10 killing nine people and injuring more than 60 others.

Iteere said police were still pursuing leads into the grenade attacks.