Kenya had intelligence of the terror attacks plan

• Foreign Affairs minister says Kampala bombings would have been ‘possibly’ averted if his warning were heeded

Kenya warned that terrorists linked to the al-Shabaab militia group were about to stage attacks in the East African region three days before the blasts that left 76 people dead in Kampala, Uganda.

Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula told the Associated Press that there was credible intelligence that the fighters were upping their game and appealed for help from the United States to keep the militants at bay.

The minister said in the interview with the American wire service that the situation in Somalia was “very, very dire” and that Somalia’s immediate neighbours, including Kenya, faced potential attacks from the militants.

He said that veteran insurgents from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan had relocated to Somalia in large enough numbers to worry the international community.

“There have been Afghans, there have been Pakistanis, there have been certain Middle Eastern nationalities, quite a number. Intelligence reports indicate that there’s quite a cocktail of them,” Mr Wetang’ula told The Associated Press last week.

Mr Wetang’ula has complained that the US and other rich nations are doing little to help prop the government in Somalia and to fight off the militia group.

“They spend billions of dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With just a small fraction of that amount, we can strengthen the TFG and capacitate them with tanks, aerial power, armoured vehicles so that they are able to secure their people. They run on a war economy,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

“A country is no country if it cannot guarantee security to its people. Somalia runs on a war economy. The US is not doing enough and is not willing to sufficiently listen to the concerns.”

Forewarn the militia

Contacted by the Sunday Nation, Mr Wetang’ula said that it would be “inappropriate” for him to disclose the information Kenyan intelligence officers have since it would forewarn the militia group.

But, asked whether the Kampala attacks would have been averted had the international community acted, he said “possibly yes”.

He spoke ahead of the African Union Summit which begins in Kampala on July 25 and whose theme of maternal and child healthcare is highly likely to be overshadowed by the events of last Sunday’s terror attack on football fans watching the World Cup final in the city.

Al-Shabaab has since claimed responsibility for the attacks.

“In the face of what happened it would be inappropriate either to the terrorist or even to us. Let’s leave it at that. We have intelligence and we are using it and perpetrators must know that no one will sit back and watch them cause mayhem,” the minister said.

The minister said that some Kenyan residents of Somali origin were under constant watch but said the country had no problem with those whose status is properly verified by authorities.

“Some are on a watch list. We are continuously on a high alert to ensure that whatever information we get . . . we must evaluate it and see how valuable it is. Even when a mad man comes in, we must look for a lucid moment in his madness,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

Somalia has been without a government since 1991 and various international efforts to establish a government in Mogadishu have largely floundered.

The Transitional Federal Government has been unable to establish its authority beyond the area protected by African Union peacekeepers and has repeatedly asked for help.