700 police posted to northern Kenya in terror war

Defence minister Yusuf Haji (left) and the Chief Of The Defence Forces General Julius Karangi at the Department of Defence headquarters in Nairobi July 5, 2012. Mr Haji said a 700 officers have been deployed to northern Kenya in to combat terror. ANTHONY OMUYA

A seven hundred strong police contingent has been posted to North Eastern province in the wake of increased terror attacks.

Fourteen vehicles have also deployed to help police patrols in new measures to combat terrorism.

Acting Internal Security minister Yusuf Haji said Thursday that security will be enhanced during church functions.

All taxis and motor cycle operators commonly referred to as boda boda will have to be registered, Mr Haji said.

Of the 700 officers, 300 comprise regular police while Administration Police number 100.

A further 300 police reservists have also been deployed.

The latest move comes days after 17 people were killed in twin church attacks in Garissa.

Hooded gunmen threw grenades at people worshipping at the AIC and Catholic churches. They also opened fire resulting in the 17 deaths and over 60 injured.

On Wednesday, eighty-three people were arrested in a massive security swoop launched after the attacks in Garissa churches.

Garissa district commissioner M.M. Kangi said a combined team of the Kenya Police, Administration Police, National Security Intelligence Service and the paramilitary General Service Unit was conducting an “intensified operation to step up intelligence gathering, flush out Al-Shabaab sympathisers and foil other potential terrorist plans”.