We are coming, UN says about Al-shabaab to Nairobi Kenya Residents

based in
Nairobi has warned of a looming
terror attack in Nairobi which will
target specifically overcrowded
places, malls and places renowned
to be frequented by foreigners
warning its staff to keep off those
places for their safety.
The UN Intel office specifically
pointed Yaya Centre, Junction Mall
and Hurlingham in Nairobi as the
major targets.
This warning has come when Kenya
witnessed the second most deadly
attack (since Westgate) in
Mpeketoni, Lamu County which left
more than 60 people dead and
hundreds displaced.
Earlier, Al-Shabaab had warned
tourists planning to visit Kenya to
cancel their visits or risk putting
their lives in jeopardy of terror
attack. They urged the government
to remove their troops in Somalia
as long as they want to enjoy
peace.
Earlier, the President dismissed
claims by Al-Shabaab that they are
responsible for the attack terming
the attacks as well orchestrated
and planned by politicians for
their egocentric gains, a statement
that was dismissed by CORD
leader, Raila Odinga.

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Jicho pevu on Mpeketoni saga

Amid Kenya’s trying times,
investigative journalist Mohamed
Ali wrote the president a letter in
Swahili to ail his sentiments on
behalf of Kenyans. Much has been
said and done about the insecurity
issue in the country, take time to
go through the letter below:
Rais,
Habari ya siku nyingi?
Jina langu ni Mohammed Ali,
mwandishi wa habari ya
runinga ya KTN. Mara ya
mwisho kuonana naye ilikua
wakati wa kampeni za
uchaguzi mkuu uliopita huko
Mombasa katika shule ya
msingi ya Khadija. Ulikua
mchangamfu kando na ahadi
chungunzima kwa Wakenya.
Ahadi za tarakilishi za bure
kwa wanafunzi wa darasa la
kwanza, kutoa nafasi za kazi
milioni moja kila mwaka kwa
vijana, kuekeza katika
usalama wa kitaifa miongoni
mwa ahadi zingine. Lakini,
kwa hivi sasa bwana rais
nahofia ahadi hizo zimekua
tasa.
Barua yangu inaanza na
maswala ya usalama ambayo
nimeyapa kipau mbele.
Kwanza kabisa nauliza, “Uko
wapi? Hatukuoni bwana
Rais.”
Wakenya wanashabuliwa kila
mara na kuuliwa kinyama.
Walioponea wamebagi na
vilema vya maisha.
Shambulizi la Westgate na
ahadi ya serikali yako
zilionekana kama hekaya za
Abunuasi. Uliowapa
majukumu ya kutulinda wako
wapi? Kuanzia Mkurugenzi wa
NIS, Michael Gichangi,
Inspekta Jenerali wa Polisi,
David Kimaiyo, Mkurugenzi wa
CID, Ndegwa Muhoro,
Kamanda wa GSU, Kitili
Mboya, Waziri wa Usalama wa
Ndani, Joseph Ole Lenku na
Mkuu wa Majeshi, Julius
Waweru Karangi.
Ukweli wa mambo ni kwamba
Wakenya wanahisi kuwa nyote
mmelala.
Usalama umegeuzwa na kuwa
mchezo wa tufe. Tumejisahau
kiasi cha hata kuonyesha siri
zetu za ndani kwa maadui
zetu. Hatujui tunapigana na
nani.
Katika kazi yangu ya uandishi
wa habari, nimezungumza na
wadadisi wa maswala ya
usalama na bwana Rais wengi
wao wanahisi twapigana
wenyewe kwa wenyewe. Na
iwapo si wenyewe kwa
wenyewe basi twafukuzana na
kivuli cha fimbo ambacho
hakisitiri jua.
Badala ya kuua magaidi
tunajiua wenyewe kwa
wenyewe. Kwa kweli hatuwezi
shinda vita hivi ikiwa
twaumizana wenyewe kwa
wenyewe badala ya
kuungana. Mara tunaambiwa
ni MRC, mara ni Mungiki,
mara magaidi, maragodoro na
sasa waziri wako Ole Lenku
ana mapya zaidi.
Waswahili wanasema “Bata
ata umlishe mawe bado
atahara”. Bwana Rais,
tumwamini nani?
Bwana Rais, majuzi uliingia
na taswira mpya kabisa katika
uwanja wa Nyayo; magari ya
kujikinga na risasi na
usalama zaidi. Hii, si kawaida
tangu uongozi wa Hayati
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel
Toroitich arap Moi na Mwai
Kibaki. Iwapo wewe unahofia,
je sisi walalahoi tutahisi vipi?
Mauaji ya Mpeketoni ni sawia
nay ale ya Tana River. Damu
ya wana Mpeketoni inalilia
haki. Kina mama wamechwa
bila watoto na waume huku
watoto wakisalia mayatima
kwa kosa la serikali
walilolichagua ki katiba,
serikali iliyowaahidi
kuwalinda pamoja na mali
zao. Mauaji ya kiholela
yanazidi kugonga vichwa vya
habari, baadhi ya walinda
usalama wameamua wao ndio
majaji na mawakili kwa
Wakenya wanyonge wasio na
mtetezi.
Bwana Rais, wakenya wanalia;
kuanzia Easatleigh, Baragoi
hadi Mandera.
Nina machungu na mengi ya
kukueleza lakini muda
hauniruhusu. Kumbuka Kenya
ni jina, nchi ni sisi.
Ni hayo tu kwa sasa.
Shukran.

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Al-Shabaab,"It was us at Mpeketoni attacks"

Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab rebels on Monday said
they carried out an attack on a
town on Kenya's coast that left over 50 dead.
A statement from the group said
the attack in Mpeketoni, near
Lamu was revenge for the "Kenyan
government's brutal oppression of
Muslims in Kenya through
coercion, intimidation and
extrajudicial killings of Muslim
scholars."
It also condemned the "Kenyan
military's continued invasion and
occupation of our Muslim lands
and the massacre of innocent
Muslims in Somalia."
"To the tourists visiting Kenya we
say this: Kenya is now officially a
war zone and as such any tourists
visiting the country do so at their
own peril," the group said.
"Foreigners with any regard for
their safety and security should
stay away from Kenya or suffer
the bitter consequences of their
folly. You have been forewarned!"
it added.
Around 50 heavily-armed gunmen
drove into Mpeketoni, near Lamu,
late on Sunday.
Witnesses said they first attacked
a police station, before starting to
randomly shoot at civilians, some
of whom had been watching the
World Cup in local bars and hotels.
The Al-Shabaab statement vowed
more attacks would follow.
"We hereby warn the Kenyan
government and its public that as
long as you continue to invade our
lands and oppress innocent
Muslims, such attacks will continue
and the prospect of peace and
stability in Kenya will be but a
distant mirage. Do not ever dream
of living peacefully in your lands
while your forces kill the innocent
in our lands," it said.
Kenyan troops crossed into
southern Somalia in 2011 to fight
Al-Shabaab, later joining the now
22,000-strong African Union force
battling the militants.

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Mpeketoni attack in pictures: Terrorism

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48 people killed in Mpeketoni town attack

LAMU, KENYA: Police have confirmed
at least 48 people dead in
Mpeketoni, Lamu County following
an attack by gunmen last night and
warned the toll could rise.
Other witnesses say there are more
than 30 people who died in the
attack by gunmen believed to be Al-
shabaab from Somalia.
Inspector General of Police David
Kimaiyo said among those confirmed
dead so far is a police driver. The
deceased officer was a driver to
Lamu County commander.
“We are going there to witness but
the situation is not good for now.
The toll could be more than the 48
bodies that we have collected,” said
Kimaiyo on phone.
Mpeketoni town is about 40
kilometres inland in Lamu County
and the attack was not a surprise.
Police have been mobilised to collect
the bodies and police boss David
Kimaiyo says there were about 50
gunmen who struck the town with
explosives and guns attacking two
hotels, a bank, police station and
other structures.
"They came in as passengers in the
quiet town. No arrests have been
made," Kimaiyo said adding that
police still collecting bodies. Britain
had closed its consulate in Mombasa
on Friday over terror fears.

"We are yet to know if they were Al-
Shabaab militants but so far we
have 48 bodies including a police
officer. Our officers on the ground
are collecting more which indicates
the toll could rise," said Kimaiyo.
Mpeketoni is now like a ghost town
as many residents are missing and
there is more gunfire being
witnessed. Witnesses said many
people were held hostage for hours
in the attack that started at about 8
pm and ran for almost four hours.
The area is a tourist hub and the
attack is a blow in the already
struggling sector.

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