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Army remains on high alert on Somali border
[The Nation (Nairobi)] Security forces sent to the Kenya-Somali border will remain on high alert despite the situation returning to normal, Department of Defence front man Bogita Ongeri said on Sunday.The forces deployed to the border after fighting broke out between the Somali Transitional Government and Ethiopia near the Kenya border in Mandera will remain there even after they successfully managed to secure Kenya's territory, he said. Security had also been intensified in different parts of the country, including Nairobi, following intelligence reports that showed infiltration of Al-Shabaab agents, Mr Ongeri said. Reports show Al-Shabaab is not only a threat to Kenya but also to the region. "We have mobilised the police and all security agents and they are liaising well," Mr Ongeri said, adding, the country would not allow any spill-over. He said the armed forces were well prepared but declined to give details, saying that would jeopardise security. North Eastern police boss Leo Nyongesa said the situation was calm and appropriate security measures had been put in place. He said the heavy presence of troops should not be construed to mean there was a serious threat. "All security forces are there, including the army," he said. Last week, police named 11 Kenyans they said were Al-Shabaab agents who had undergone military training and sent to Kenya, possibly to organise terror attacks. (READ: Police name 11 linked to al Shabaab group) They asked wananchi to volunteer information on the suspects' whereabouts. On December 3, last year, police in Kasarani rubbed out two of them, John Mwanzia Ngui alias Yahya and David Mwanzia Wangeci, alias Yusuf. Police linked past attacks to the group, including the Uhuru Park bombing on June 13, as well as multiple kabooms in Kampala in which 76 people were killed in July last year during the soccer World Cup finals. Posted by: Fred 2011-03-14 |
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