Kibaki meets security chiefs over Lamu raids

President Kibaki on Tuesday summoned the country’s top security organ following the abduction of two tourists at the Coast.

The emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting reportedly considered positioning the Kenya Navy in the area to counter attacks believed to be waged by al Shabaab militants from war-torn Somalia.

The meeting came as the tourism sector started feeling the effects of the attacks on two resorts in Lamu by Somali militants, with several Western nations issuing travel advisories to their citizens to keep off the Kenyan coast and urban slums.

UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned its citizens against travelling to parts of the Coast and Nairobi.

“We now advise against all but essential travel to coastal areas within 150km of the Kenya-Somalia border.

“This includes the Lamu area. We also advise against all but essential travel to low income areas of Nairobi, including all township or slum areas,” read the advisory posted on UK Government’s official website. (READ: UK travel advisory on Kenya)

Workers sent home

Last Saturday, French woman Marie Dedieu was abducted at her cottage on Manda Island, while Mrs Judith Tebutt, a Briton, was seized last month and her husband, David, shot dead at the exclusive Kiwayu Safari Village Resort.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the attacks had adversely affected the tourism sector hence the decision to convene the NSC meeting.

“We know this will have very negative impact to tourism nationally. Tourism is one of the key drivers of our economy so it is an issue we are taking very seriously.

“A number of countries have now issued advisories to the tourists to move away or to desist from going towards Lamu,” Mr Odinga said.

Kiwayu Resort was shut down indefinitely and more than half of its 120 staff sent on leave following the attack.

Some of them told Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere, who visited the hotel on Tuesday, that the closure followed cancellation of bookings.

Mr Odinga said the meeting also discussed whether to form a special unit to fight the new security threat and how to position the Kenya Navy in the area to check the militants.

The NSC comprises the President, PM (on invitation), Chief of the Kenya Defence Force, director of intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers and Head of Public Service.

It is the only organ mandated by the Constitution to order the deployment of Kenyan forces to another country.

“This is a very serious matter. I am going to attend an emergency session of the NSC to deal with this matter and see the reports of those who have been tasked with dealing with this issue and to make recommendations.

“This is transnational crime because those doing the abductions are coming from across the border. We will look at the role of the Navy and whether we need a special unit to deal with this matter,” he said.

Besides the President and the PM, the NSC is also attended by the ministers for Defence, Internal Security and Foreign Affairs.

The Attorney General, the Chief of Defence Forces, the Director-General of the National Security Intelligence and the police chief also sit on the council.

The meeting was called a day after the Kenya Navy was ordered to launch onslaughts on enemy vessels and disable boats that defy orders. In both abductions, the captives were transported to Somalia on speedboats.

Two Kenya Navy seamen who were pursuing the abductors in the Saturday attack died after their boat capsized according to Internal Security Minister George Saitoti.

Two of the abductors were also killed following an exchange of fire with the Kenyan forces.

Prof Saitoti has blamed the attacks on the militant group and warned that they would be dealt with ruthlessly.

“The government cannot be drawn into a discussion with criminals of that nature. As far as we are concerned, they are criminals and we shall deal with them,” Prof Saitoti warned.

The intensified security operations would involve positioning more speedboats in the Indian Ocean to boost security round the clock and aerial surveillance.

“All speed boats and merchant ships will have to be inspected by Immigration and Custom officials before entering Kenya. Any speed boat that will be challenged in the sea and fail to stop will be dealt with,” the minister said.

Under threat

Speaking at a different forum, Lands Minister James Orengo said Kenya’s territorial integrity had been repeatedly violated and is still under threat from South Sudan, Uganda and Somalia.

Mr Orengo told the Parliamentary committee on defence and foreign relations that questions about the maritime borders on Lake Victoria, the borders with South Sudan and those with Somalia will only be answered if Kenya, after negotiating with the individual neighbours, marks out its territory with beacons.