Friday, October 28, 2011
Omar Muchiri and Stephen Macharia, both Kenyans, however denied the charges. They also denied being accomplices of fellow Kenyan Elgiva Bwire Oliacha, who confessed on Wednesday to being a member of the extremist Shabaab insurgents.
Bwire also admitted to have been in illegal possession of firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, a submachine gun, two revolvers, 13 live hand grenades and 770 assorted rounds of ammunition.
All three were arrested this week as Kenyan police stepped up security in the wake of Shabaab threats to attack the country in retaliation for Nairobi's military offensive in southern Somalia.
Muchiri and Macharia were detained pending the resumption of their case on November 4.
Meanwhile, nine Al Shabaab militants were on Thursday killed and two Kenyan soldiers critically injured in a fierce battle with about 45 militias. The Kenyan troops engaged the militia group for the first time since launching an assault mid this month.
The troops were travelling to Bilis Qooqani from Tabda to offer reinforcement when the militias attacked. Military spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir says the soldiers have been airlifted to Nairobi for medical attention.
Speaking to KBC on phone Major Chirchir said that the Kenyan troops have intensified its operations and has captured Busar town and were moving towards Burahache as the operation enters week two.
He said earlier the troops carried an aerial attack at Anole which is believed to be the logistical and training area for the militias.
He further said that the Kenyan troops are also targeting Burgabo area to ensure that the militia group does not penetrate.
Elsewhere, four people were killed by unknown assailants as they ferried Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examination in a land cruiser along Mandera -lafey road.
The midday attack claimed lives of education officials supervising the ongoing form four examinations. Confirming the incident to KNA, North Eastern provincial commissioner James ole Serian linked the attack to the Al-shabaab militia group.
Ole Serian said the bandits fled to Somalia but security agents are pursuing them across the border with the assistance from the Kenya keeping guard in Gedo region.
He said patrol will be intensified all over the province to protect the lives and property of the citizens. He said that a search will be conducted in the province to wipe out foreigners causing chaos in the name of retaliation.
He appealed to travelers from Mandera County to use Mandera - Ramu-elwaq road instead of Mandera-lafey-elwak route which is prone to militia attacks.
He also cautioned residents from harbouring aliens as they posed a security threat to them. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has appealed to Kenyans to volunteer information to security agents to defeat the terrorists.