Hiiraan Online
Thursday, April 9, 2015
NAIROBI (HOL) --- One day after the Kenyan government has ordered the closure of 13 Somali remittance companies it suspected of funding terrorism, the companies affected by the decision held a large meeting aimed at pushing a court appeal against the government's decision.
Kenyan government imposed the rule two days after a deadly university siege in which at least 147 people, mostly students were killed.
At their meeting on Wednesday, the business community expressed optimism that the government would repeal its decision they termed as 'unfair'.
"We shall probably resume our operations after a week - the government wants to ensure the flow the hawala money and their exact destinations for now." Mohamed Hassan, the general secretary for Somali remittances Associated in Kenya told HOL.
Somali remittance companies deliver hundreds of millions into the horn of Africa each month, including funds for aid agencies supporting the poor people in the impoverished horn of Africa nation, filling the gaps in the absence of a formal banking system.
As parts of anti-terrorism crackdown, the Kenyan government also closed the accounts for 86 individuals, organizations, hotels and companies it accused of being involved in terrorism activities.
The killing of 148 students by Somalia's Al-Shabab at Garissa, some 120 miles from the border, has piled pressure on President Uhuru Kenyatta to deal with the fighters who have killed more than 400
people in Kenya in the last two years, according to Ajazeera Television.
Kenya's Foreign Minister, Amina Mohamed, told Reuters on Tuesday that the east African nation is seeking additional foreign intelligence and security help after the Garissa massacre, the deadliest attack in Kenya since Al-Qaeda bombed the U.S. embassy in 1998, killing more than 200 people.