The Standard
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Security forces have blamed Al Shabaab remnants for the killing of nine people at a restaurant in Garissa town in one of the most daring attacks.
The officials were yesterday holed up in meetings trying to establish the motive of the attack.
Three people remain in hospital in critical condition following the attack on Holiday Inn Hotel, commonly known as Kwa Chege.
Witnesses said a gunman believed to have been hooded struck using an AK 47 rifle, as people were having dinner and watching 7pm news on Thursday.
The attacker killed six people on the spot while three died on arrival at the hospital.
The hotel has been a target of terrorist attacks before, with people suspected to be Al Shabaab sympathisers hurling grenades at it last year, killing and injuring several people.
“We suspect there could have been an attack in their country in Somalia that angered those who are hiding here to retaliate, but we are investigating. It is sad that they are targeting innocent civilians,” said North Eastern head of CID Vitalis Okumu.
Tension remained high in Garissa yesterday as the public threatened to stage protests over insecurity.
Security agents engaged the leaders of the group and prevailed upon them not to hold protests.
In shock
Meanwhile, residents of a Kisumu was engulfed in shock after a man’s body was found dangling from the
The deceased was sharing a room with his relatives and is said to
have returned home late the previous night from a drinking spree. It
could not, however, be established if Dennis Otieno Onyango 34,
committed suicide.
A relative, Clifford Oguna, said Onyango had been suffering from
depression after separating with his wife a month ago. “I was called by a
resident who informed me that he had committed suicide,” said Oguna.
Kisumu OCPD Musa Kongoli urged the residents to share their problems with their confidants instead of taking away their lives.
Kongoli said they were investigating the motive of the suicide. The body was taken to New Nyanza Provincial Hospital Mortuary.
The incident comes a week after a woman killed her four-year-old
daughter, but escaped the wrath of residents who wanted to lynch her.
Another man is alleged to have taken away his life due to marital problems a month ago.