Search follows alarm raised by residents in the wake of Westgate attack

By PAUL MUTUA

KITUI, KENYA: Police on Saturday raided a hotel run by proprietors of Somali origin in Kitui town after reports that it was harbouring Al Shabaab terrorists.

The heavily armed security agents combed the hotel for an hour searching for firearms, explosives and other dangerous weapons.

Kitui Central district OCPD Muchagi Kioi and his CID counterpart Adan Guyo led the operation that caught many revelers and patrons unawares, paralysing business at the guesthouse.

The police summoned one of the proprietors Mr Hassan Ibrahim whom they ordered to open all the 22 lodging rooms, stores, latrines and offices in the premises for thorough inspection.

Kioi said the raid came after public raised suspicion on the hotel’s management after the hotel went through two face-lifts within a span of two years with a claim that a weapon’s’ go-down had been constructed in the storey building.

“We acted on public anxiety and suspicion that the hotel could be a dangerous stockpile of arms. We demanded to search the building to verify their fears. We did not find any evidence,” said Kioi who added police were leaving nothing to chance after the Westgate attack.

Curious onlookers milled around the hotel and waited in anticipated breath about the outcome of the police operation.

The OCPD confirmed the people’s concerns but said the worries were far from the truth.

Later, Ibrahim discounted the widespread reports as propaganda whose aim was tailored to damage his business and lead to desertion of customers.

“I am a Kenyan citizen from Elwak in Mandera and for anyone or a group of people to paint our business as war guerillas is painful and out of reality,” said Ibrahim.

Mr Kitavi Ngala, a son of former cabinet minister Eliud Ngala Mwendwa, whose family rented the building to the present tenants some four years ago, said the businessmen were harmless entrepreneurs who came to assist in improving Kitui County economy.

Kitavi said although Al Shaabab threat was real, security personnel should not entertain rumormongering in the society that can scare away potential investors.