News
Saitoti tells of foiled attacks
Internal Security minister George Saitoti during a press conference at Harambee House, Nairobi on January 20, 2010. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI
Posted Wednesday, January 20 2010 at 22:00
Security agents have foiled numerous terrorist attacks targeting Kenya, Internal Security minister George Saitoti has revealed.
Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, the minister said were it not for the efforts taken behind the scenes, Kenyans would be experiencing “terrible things”.
Prof Saitoti made the remarks while defending the ongoing crackdown against foreigners living in Kenya illegally, some of whom he labelled sympathisers of the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militia that has links with the Al-Qaeda terror network.
He said: “The security authorities are in a position to make sure they are able to nip it (terror threat) in the bud. I cannot, for security reasons, come and tell you the planned incidents, which, incidentally, we have frustrated, and there have been many.”
The minister added: “If we had gone to sleep I can assure you that many terrible things will happen to this country but we don’t want to tell you that and no government will able to go and say those things.”
More than 500 foreigners have been arrested in a night operation that started on Sunday, which targets hotels, casinos, bars, restaurants and lodgings. The operation is concentrated in Eastleigh and the city centre.
It has also taken place in Nakuru, Nyeri and along major highways connecting Kenya with neighbouring countries. Twelve Somali MPs, five of them facing deportation, were among the foreigners rounded up.
Al-Shabaab
At least 50 of those arrested have been isolated and handed over to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, where they are being interrogated over possible links with the Al-Shabaab. “We’ve clearly stated that those foreigners who are living here and don’t have legal permits to be here have to leave this country. No country allows it and Kenya cannot be an exception,” Prof Saitoti said.
The minister said the crackdown is not intended to punish members of particular communities. He called on all Kenyans to co-operate with security officers in the operation, saying security was a responsibility of all citizens.
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Submitted by Adan77Posted January 22, 2010 05:00 PM
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Submitted by PFoster
Human rights groups and NGO's can easily weaken a nation if not checked! Upto date there is no word of any of this groups showing solidarity with the shot police or even showing sympathy, none ever talk of protecting or how better to improve our forces...just press conferences and reports on all that ills the police, but again how would this groups get funding?
Posted January 21, 2010 10:00 PM -
Submitted by kevkephas
kudos Saitoti.just because there is a riot doesnt mean that the security details are doing nothing to foil terrorist attacks.i guess everytime we wake up in the morning we should know that there are people scheming and purposing to protect the country every single minute,.we should open our eyes and see the under currents in each situation
Posted January 21, 2010 05:16 PM -
Submitted by Mishuki
Much as i would agree with saitoti that we need to take steps to foil any attempts to cause anxiety within our nation...we dont want to create enemies that would otherwise want to unleash terror.
Posted January 21, 2010 12:50 PM
RSS
I have no quarrels with the security agencies doing what they are doing as long as they do it within the confines of the laws...what bothers me is these security agencies taking this exercise as an opportunity to harass and extort money from law abiding Kenyan Somali citizens, whose only crime is to resemble Somalis from Somalia