Al Shabaab behind Kwale gun attacks, officials allege

By Tobias Chanji

Security officials in Kwale now allege that newly trained jihadists with links to Somalia's Al Shabaab are behind the crime wave and rising gun violence in the region.

They spoke a day after gunmen traded fire with police on patrol in the area which an officer was injured but it was not clear what motives Al Shabaab would be advancing by sowing crime in Kwale.

On Thursday, Msambweni Sub County assistant commissioner Justus Maina claimed that detectives believe 20 suspected jihadists who returned from Somalia are behind the violence in Kwale.

“We are currently doing investigations and there are issues which we cannot make public due to the sensitivity of the matter. Those targeted might know the tricks and device ways to evade investigations,” he said at Muhaka grounds.

The criminal’s incidents which range from killings to grenade attacks and shoot-outs have sparked fear especially in the Diani town tourist resort.

“Police are working day and night on the names to trace the “dangerous” Somali returnees who are believed to have a hand in the intermittent attacks in the tourist’s town,” added Maina.

He also noted that some of the dangerous youths have already crossed Tanzania border after realizing they are being hunted down.

Others, the commissioner said are hiding in Likoni and Majengo in Mombasa while others have sneaked back to Somalia.

Without elaborating further or without giving the motive of these attacks Maina said that authorities have information of small trainings going on in Diani by some of the Somalia returnees adding that very soon all culprits will be brought to book.

The assistant commissioner argued that security is not a task of the national government only but for everyone and therefore urged locals to work with police in arresting such characters who are out to tarnish the county’s name.

“Even if we bring over 1000 police officers in Kwale and there is no cooperation we will go nowhere. Weapons cannot bring security, if that was so, Somalia would be secure,” he noted.

 “Let us join hands and inform police where these criminals are hiding because if we found them in your place both of you will be in for it,” he added.

During the month of December last year three people were killed under unclear circumstances while the past few weeks a grenade was hurled at a discotheque and police vehicle.

However the Msambweni OCPD Jack Ekakoro has neither denied nor confirmed the availability of Alshabab returnees.

“If the assistant commissioner told you so, he should be in a position to confirm. What I can say is that we have arrested several people engaging in this crime and very soon will get hold of every one. We are also going to make sure that locals give us information,” said the OCPD.

Governor Salim Mvurya on Wednesday said that the national government should intervene and arrest the situation in Diani tourist town.

He said that people should not blame his government for the attacks since the security docket is under central government although they work together.