High alert as Shabaab flee Somalia war

Security agencies were Thursday placed on high alert over fears of an influx of Al-Shabaab terrorists into Kenya.

Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo said the ongoing massive multi-national offensive against the terrorists in Somalia had caused them to abandon their camps in droves, with most of those fleeing likely to seek refuge in Kenya.

“This operation has been going on for some time and has recorded significant achievement so far. It must be understood however, that in spite of these efforts, the elements who are being fought may most likely seek to escape as the pressure on them intensifies,” Mr Kimaiyo said.

He added: “Our country being one of the immediate neighbours of Somalia, is likely to be one of the areas where these insurgents and militias may seek to escape to. The possibility that they may want to further their agenda (here) cannot be down-played.”

Operation Indian Ocean, comprising six African military forces, was launched last month and many towns that had remained under Al-Shabaab control have since been captured.

Key among them is the port town of Barawe, which had served as Al-Shabaab headquarters after they were kicked out of Kismayu by the Kenya Defence Forces in 2012.

Mr Kimaiyo’s warning comes less than a week after KDF troops killed five Al-Shabaab terrorists and recovered a car laden with 100 kilogrammes of TNT near Moyale, on the border with Ethiopia.

SUICIDE VESTS

During the 11pm incident on Saturday, six suicide vests were also found in the car, which the terrorists were sneaking into the country.
On Wednesday, Mr Mohamed Abdi Wahab, a suspected commander of Al-Shabaab, was arrested at a police roadblock in Mwngi, Kitui County, aboard a car to Nairobi.

“I also want to urge all agencies which have a role to play in our border management and other aspects of security to ensure they tighten security through enhanced and thorough screening and vetting of all persons, goods and merchandise coming into our country,” Mr Kimaiyo said.

He further told police commanders to work with counterparts in other agencies and share intelligence.

National Intelligence Service, the military and Immigration department are some of the agencies with outposts near the Somalia border.
“To achieve maximum effect, they should work closely and exchange information at all times so that each can be in the picture of the position of affairs along our borders,” Mr Kimaiyo added.

He urged members of the public to report any “suspicious activities which they may notice or hear of.”

In the statement, Mr Kimaiyo also said: “I call upon all residents of those towns along our borders to be extra vigilant about foreigners and visitors coming into our country particularly those who may appear to be questionable or do not have documentation. They should report any arrivals or entry of persons who may not have designated areas of abode.”

As part of Operation Indian Ocean, KDF troops are deployed in Sector 2, a region that stretches from lower Gedo through Middle Juba to Lower Juba which encompasses Kismayu.

Other areas are covered by forces from Djibouti, Burundi, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia.

In one of the latest KDF offensive on October 10, Air Force jets bombed Al-Shabaab defence positions north of Bula Guduud, killing 60 fighters.

Five technical vehicles were destroyed and those who survived escaped towards Jilib.

Earlier in the month, KDF troops captured Bula Guduud town after killing 22 Al-Shabaab militants and captured the terrorists’ camp there.
Twelve Al-Shabaab fighters were also killed in subsequent KDF counter offences.