Security beefed up as Kenya remembers Westgate terrorist attack

Cabinet Secretary for Interior Joseph Nkaisery

NAIROBI: Security has been enhanced in Nairobi and major towns as the country marks the second anniversary of the bloody Westgate Mall terrorist attack, authorities have said.

Uniformed and plainclothes police officers have in the past week increased their presence in public places such as churches, supermarkets, malls and and other social places to preempt any attacks.

They have also asked Kenyans to be extra vigilant . "We are all over but need public participation to ensure total safety," said National Police Service Director of Communications.

And according to Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Joseph Nkaissery, the country is now safe and ready for economic take off.

The CS says security agencies have foiled dozens of attacks and arrested many suspects. "We don't shout all the time but I can tell you we have foiled many similar incidents. It is unfortunate some (attacks) have happened but we are focused for now," he said.

He cited the August arrest of more than a dozen suspects and seizure of weapons in Garissa town.

The weapons recovered from the suspects included three AK-47 riffles, 227 rounds of ammunition, seven rocket-propelled grenades, four magazines and four hand grenades.

Police also recovered a metallic improvised explosive device (IED) carrier, soldering wire and several mobile phones.

The suspects included eight Tanzanians allegedly headed to Somalia to join Al Shabaab.

While Mr Nkaissery says that the Government's counter-terrorism measures have been widely successful, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights claims 20 suspects have been killed and another 80 gone missing during the operation.

The CS says they have made various changes in police operations to bolster security. These changes include equipping the police, changing the police leadership, installing CCTV cameras in urban centres, enhancing collection and consumption of intelligence and involving the public in security-related issues.

Nkaissery has also made major changes in the national administration affecting county commissioners and also shuffled county commanders.

The new commanders were on a retreat in Laikipia last Wednesday and Thursday to discuss security. The meeting was also attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Al Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the Westgate attack, terming it retribution for Kenya's military incursion into Somalia.

The siege at the mall started on September 21, 2013 when four militants stormed the mall and started shooting shoppers. Sixty seven people were killed and hundreds wounded during the four-day siege.

Security agencies were caught off guard when the terrorists struck the upmarket mall which is usually frequented by wealthy locals and expatriates.

While remembering the dark day, the Director of the National Disaster Management Unit, Pius Masai, said that lack of a clear-cut leadership structure contributed to the failures witnessed.

"At that point in time, every government administration department was working as its own entity. There was no co-ordination and cohesion among them despite working for the same common good. This really affected the rescue progress," he told The Standard.

Mr Masai said lack of co-ordination led to a lot of wastage in Government resources with very little being done: "Instances like calling the military to come and handle work that the police can do was unwarranted."

To mark the second Westgate anniversary, a group of business people in Eastleigh have organised a march to condemn the attack.