UN agency distances staff from terror

What you need to know:

  • Mr Nkaissery charged on Sunday that the government is “very concerned about the alleged involvement or complacency of some UNHCR personnel, who facilitate terrorist activities in this country.”
  • The Interior minister claimed in Geneva, Switzerland, that the final planning for the attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi two years ago was done in the Dadaab refugee complex.

A spokeswoman of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has said she is not aware that some of the agency’s workers are linked to terrorism, as stated by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery in a statement

Ms Karin deGruijl told the Nation on Tuesday that “we were very surprised. We not aware of any staff who are complicit in terrorism-related matters,” said the agency’s senior communications officer for East Africa.

“If there are indeed any substantiated allegations, we expect that the Government of Kenya will inform us and take appropriate action, in accordance with the law,” Ms deGruijl added.

Mr Nkaissery charged on Sunday that the government is “very concerned about the alleged involvement or complacency of some UNHCR personnel, who facilitate terrorist activities in this country.”

The Interior minister claimed in Geneva, Switzerland, that the final planning for the attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi two years ago was done in the Dadaab refugee complex.