by CYRUS OMBATI
Tuesday July 4, 2023
IGP Koome (R) and DIG Douglas Kanja (C) listening to police officers during a meeting in Garissa on June 25, 2023
Bomb experts were on Sunday night called to a scene where a bag was abandoned along Langata Road, Nairobi.
The experts inspected the bag using robots and picked it up for scrutiny. This is after the incident had caused panic and briefly disrupted traffic flow.
Police said they later found the bag had “papers” and there was no cause for alarm.
Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said multi-agency teams rushed to the scene following calls from the road users and secured it.
“There was nothing inside and we think it was intentionally abandoned there for a purpose known to those behind it,” he said.
Bungei said they have increased alertness and surveillance on various forms of crimes including terrorism.
He urged for continued alertness from the public even as security agencies do their work.
“We need the public support to win this war as much as we are always fighting these criminals,” he said.
This comes amid intensified alertness over terrorism fears.
Multi-agency teams have been mobilised to disrupt any planned terror attacks in the country following increased such incidents along the Kenya-Somalia border.
Intelligence reports also show some terrorists may have sneaked into the country for a mission.
Up to 30 people including security officials were in June alone killed in separate terror related attacks near the Kenya-Somalia border.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome flew to Lamu Friday, June 30 for a series of security meetings with local bosses to address fears of more terror related attacks.
Koome held meetings with the multi-agency teams involved in the ongoing security operations to ensure peace and tranquility prevails in the area.
The IG had last week visited parts of Garissa County, which is also facing terror threats.
Terrorists who cross from the porous Kenya-Somalia border have in the last month alone left more than 30 people, most of them security officials dead.
They have been planting improvised explosives on the routes used by the security officials killing, maiming many and destroying property.
There are fears of more attacks in the border region amid calls for intensified operations to stop the trend.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki visited Lamu two weeks ago and said the government will do all it takes to fight and end the terror menace in the country.
“We have already set aside Sh20 billion to purchase advanced security equipment, including armoured personnel carrier vehicles, drones and other gadgets so that our security agencies get proper safety as they effectively fight the terrorists," said Kindiki.
The border region has borne the brunt of repeated attacks from the militants who are at times aided by locals.
Many believe the ongoing onslaught on the terror group al Shabaab in Somalia is partially contributing to the incidents in Kenya.
This is after the terrorists ran away to seek refuge in Kenya and in turn started to attack.
On the Somali front, al Shabaab has continued to suffer major fatalities from Africa Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) regional forces and the Somali National Army (SNA) the most recent being a loss of 43 al Shabaab fighters and their two key leaders.
The militias were struck as they gathered to plan an attack against Somali government soldiers.
Such attacks are expected to intensify with the appointment of Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow as the new commander of the Somali National Army.
Gen. Ibrahim is known for his wide experience in military combat as he previously held various military positions including commander of the presidential Guard Brigade.
Somalia has not had a stable government after the fall of Siad Barre in 1991.