Kenya tightens security after blasts

By Cyrus Ombati

Kenya’s security agencies remained on high alert following a twin suicide bombing in the Ugandan capital Kampala on Sunday night, which killed 64 people as they watched the World Cup final.

The head of anti-terrorism police Nicholas Kamwende confirmed they had been on alert since last week following threats from Somalia’s militant group Al-Shabaab, who said last Friday they would attack Burundi and Uganda.

"Whatever happens in Uganda affects us. We have taken extra measures to ensure we are safe as a country, but the public must be on the frontline," Kamwende told The Standard on the phone.

He said managers at social places had been instructed to ensure safety.

Highly placed sources disclosed intelligence indicated the perpetrators planned to strike Uganda, Burundi, Kenya or South Africa.

Uganda and Burundi are the only African countries to have deployed troops to the African Union’s Somalia peacekeeping force.

Last week, the militant Al Shabaab called on Somalis to step up jihad (holy war) against the peacekeepers protecting the fragile transitional government, blaming the troops for civilian deaths in Mogadishu.

Military spokesman Bogita Ongeri said yesterday: "We have been and we are on high alert. Whatever happens in any neighbouring country affects us."

Kamwende said they are still investigating the motive behind importation of 300 bomb detonators seized from a man in Ongata Rongai Township at the weekend.

However, he did not indicate whether the detonators were meant to be used against Kenyans.

The bomb detonators were seized on Saturday, when a suspect who was shot dead in Ongata Rongai as he planned to hand them to a woman.

The man, who locals said operates a butchery in the area, was killed as he tried to escape with his luggage.