Kenyan army
soldiers sit in their armored vehicles. The Kenyan military says it's
getting ready to push forward with its offensive against the al-Shabab
insurgents, December 14, 2011.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Companies and officials in East Africa are strengthening security and
issuing safety warnings during the Christmas season due to worries
about possible al-Shabab attacks in public places. The Kenyan
government says it received a credible threat to assassinate a Kenyan
minister and deputy speaker.
Securex Agencies communication officer in Nairobi, Brian Sagala, says
his company is struggling to fill the demand for extra guards, dogs,
metal detectors and other equipment.
“We are selling more walk-throughs - those are the ones when someone
just passes [through] it, it beeps. Most companies that even have our
guards are asking for the guards to be given the hand-held metal
detectors. And we are also having more queries, people just asking us,
which is the right thing to put in my building to vet people when they
are coming in,“ Sagala stated.
Sagala says the demand for such
equipment started last month, following two grenade attacks in Kenya’s
capital, and has accelerated.
The Kenyan government issued a
warning advising people to be cautious during the Christmas season in
shopping malls, hotels, places of worship and other public venues.
Kenya
recently sent troops into Somalia, where they joined the African Union
peacekeeping force AMISOM, to battle al-Shabab militants who had
launched attacks inside Kenya. During the past few weeks, scores of
al-Shabab fighters were reportedly killed by Kenyan troops in Somalia.
Two
national newspapers are reporting a December 15 "Situation Report“ from
the Office of the President claims al-Shabab operatives had
instructions to assassinate Minister of State for Defense Yusuf Haji and
Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim.
When contacted by VOA, Kenyan
government spokesman Alfred Mutua said his government’s warning was only
indirectly and distantly related to the alleged assassination threats
and recent military battles. “We were going to do it [issue the warning]
anyway. You know, just a normal, let us be careful during this holiday
season. We have got some bad guys out there who do not really care
much about human life,“ he said.
But Ugandan Army Spokesman
Colonel Felix Kulayigye, whose country has troops in AMISOM in Somalia,
says Kenyans have reason to worry.
“Of course, Kenya, being the
latest entrant into the Somali fray, makes it the most recent target for
al-Shabab. Certainly, Kenya is generally under threat from the
al-Shabab bombing," Kulayigye said. "It therefore requires extra
vigilance on the part of both the security agencies and the civilians.”
Kulayigye
says the same situation applies to Uganda. “Oh yes, we have concerns.
We have concerns, and indeed, we are extra vigilant,” he added.
Kulayigye
says he thinks it is unlikely al-Shabab would specifically target the
Kenyan minister and deputy speaker, rather preferring to carry out
large-scale attacks in public places to cause panic and raise
publicity. He says he received a death threat from al-Shabab last year,
but the militant group instead bombed soccer fans watching the World
Cup on television in a restaurant and a club, killing 74.