Terror suspect fought to his death in overnight operation in Githurai

A police officer displays grenade safety clips and bullets used by terror suspect Felix Otuko. [Photo: Jonah Onyango/Standard]

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: A man linked to three terrorist attacks in Nairobi was Sunday killed in an overnight police operation that lasted eight hours.

Felix Nyangaga Otuko, who is said to be from Busia County, fought to the last as elite officers surrounded a block of flats in which he lived in Githurai Kimbo off Thika Road.

As police attempted to corner him earlier on Saturday night, he threw four grenades injuring six officers.

“He has been on the run until Saturday when we were informed where he was,” said Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) boss Boniface Mwaniki.

Police said the 25-year-old man had targeted innocent Nairobi residents since November 2011, killing many in blood chilling attacks.

Otuko and another terrorist Elgiva Bwire Oliacha, who was arrested in Kayole, were allegedly responsible for the killing of 11 people at Machakos Country bus station.

They were also responsible for other deadly blasts which claimed several lives at OTC stage and Mwaura’s bar also in 2011 and other explosions in the city.

The elusive suspect had managed to evade the massive police hunt for about three years since Bwire was captured in Nairobi. Police claim the two went through training on terrorism in Somalia under the pupillage of hardened Al-Shabaab militants before returning to the country.

The Kenya Defence Forces later invaded the Al-Shabaab Kismayu safe haven that dealt a heavy blow to the terror group.

Sunday, Otuko gave a brave fight not surrendering meekly despite the deployment of a heavy contingent of heavily armed police officers.

In spite of the huge presence of personnel from crack police units using all kinds of sophisticated hand held weapons around his flat in Githurai Kimbo estate Otuko fought them off several times using grenades.

Police then brought in reinforcements of balaclava-clad men, who killed him together with his young wife as they engaged police using their child as a shield.

Bwire was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to all charges and saying he had no regrets for his actions.

Poorly planned

Mwaniki said they had been trailing Otuko after the two blasts at Mwaura’s bar on Mfangano Street in downtown Nairobi on October 24, 2011 and a second one at the OTC bus stop the following day injuring more than 50 people.

The couple lived on the ground floor of a three-storey building, which is under construction.

The house is in the densely populated Githurai Kimbo estate, which is poorly planned and ideal hideout for criminals.

The couple’s eight-month-old baby girl who they tried to use as a human shield was, however miraculously rescued from their house as she choked on fumes of teargas canisters that had been hurled into the one bed roomed house.

The baby, according to those who saw had fainted and was resuscitated at the scene by St Johns Ambulance team who rushed her to hospital.

“She is in a stable condition and senior police officers said they had identified a children’s home that will take care of her,” said a police officer. Two live grenades and 64 assorted bullets were recovered from the couple’s house.

The caretaker of the house, who is assisting police with investigations, informed police that Otuko moved in last month but only came to his house once a week after nightfall.

Neighbours said they rarely met the couple and did not know them.

On Saturday night, a team of police from ATPU was assembled after they were informed the couple was in the house.

The officers sought back up from Githurai Kimbo police post to secure the scene.

According to John Njoroge, a boda boda rider, the officers sealed off the vicinity of the house at about 7 pm diverting motorists and pedestrians to other routes.

“I heard other riders say so and when I came I witnessed. Police were out in force,” said Njoroge.

Kasarani OCPD Augustine Nthumbi said the first team of officers went to the house and ordered all occupants, about 10 families, to leave but Otuko and his wife refused to come out.

Four grenades

Other witnesses said police hurled teargas canisters into the couple’s house in efforts to flush them out in vain.

“When we tried to use minimum force to order them out, they hurled out four grenades injuring six officers including a senior one. It was then that we also threw tear gas canisters in the room,” said Nthumbi.

The couple then tried to use their baby as a human shield but at the same time refusing to surrender.

More personnel from General Service Unit were called after the first group retreated when the six officers were injured.

Witnesses said they saw several commandos wearing balaclavas in the middle of the night alight from vehicles dashing into the house.

“After a few minutes we heard gunshots and then there was a lull in the shooting. We are informed two terrorists had been killed,” said Jane Mungai, a resident.

There were bullet marks on the walls of the house resulting from the intensive shootout.

In the house also lay a packet of flour, fresh vegetables and potatoes, an indication the couple planned to have their supper before police struck.

A Quran, several clothes and a bed with a mattress were also in the room.

Bloodstains were also evident outside the room and police said they were of the six injured officers. Grenade pellets also punctured the metal door of the house after they went off.

GSU commandant William Saiya is among senior officers who visited the scene. Police say they had intelligence Otuko planned to stage an attack in an undisclosed place in Nairobi.

The bodies were later removed from the scene amid celebrations from a crowd that had gathered there. Police said Kenyans must always be vigilant because terror threats are still real in the country.

The attack at Mwaura’s marked the first terrorism attack only two days after the US warned of “imminent” terror attacks.

The US warning implied that Al-Shabaab would carry out reprisals in response to Kenyan troops’ incursion into Somalia in mid-October 2011.

Serious injuries

In November 2011 Somali’s Al-Shabaab militants said they attacked several other locations including the East African Pentecostal Church, a military convoy, and a Holiday Inn hotel in Garissa.

More attacks staged by local members of the terror group were reported in December 2011 resulting in deaths and serious injuries.

Referred to as the Kenyan Mujahideen by Al-Shabaab’s core members, the converts are typically young and overzealous.

Police say poverty makes them easier targets for the outfit’s recruitment so they can conduct terror activities. Reports suggest that Al-Shabaab had attempted to build an even more multi-ethnic generation of fighters in the larger region.