Kenya on security alert as troops advance

  1. Posted on Thursday 20 October 2011 - 13:30
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    Alex Kiarie, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Security has been heightened around the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and its environs, following the threats issued by the al-Shabaab terror group of revenge attacks, as the Kenyan troops advanced deep into the Somali territory. Al-Shabaab issued a warning of retaliatory attacks against Kenya, following the latter's decision to send troops into the neighbouring Somalia to hunt down and eliminate the Islamist group that has been accused of masterminding kidnappings and cross-border attacks.
    Kenyan army
    Following the threats, the Kenyan government on Tuesday published emergency telephone contacts to the members of the public to report anything that may be of security concern.

    Tyhge Nairobi Police Boss Anthony Kibuchi told the media that security measures have been put in place to secure the city. "It all starts with us and we must defeat these criminals threatening our peace. Let everyone be vigilant all the time," he added.

    Security has also been beefed up around major installations. Patrols around the Nairobi based Easteigh Air Base by the Kenya Army soldiers are also underway. Hawkers who have been plying their trade around the base have been evacuated.

    Eastleigh is an area hugely populated by members of the Somali community. It has also been sighted to be an area that has been a major recruitment base for al-Shabaab. The area is also inhabited by illegal Somali emigrants who have managed to escape from the Dadaab refugee Camp.

    All these came as it was reported by the kenya Army that the troops have kiilled over 75 Al-Shabaab fighters. The army also reported that it has not suffered any casualties on the front line.

    Announcing the gains, the Military Operations Communications Officer Major Emmanuel Chirchir said that the army has so far seized two major towns, that were previously held by the al-Shabaab over 100 Kilometres deep into Somalia, and are looking at capturing the port City of Kismayu to deny al-Shabaab of supplies that comes through the port. Tye towns of Qoqani and Afmadow have so far fallen to the Kenyan troops, he added.

    Armed with tanks, light fighter jets, helicopter gunships and armoured cars, the Kenyan soldiers launched a military offensive to drive out the al-Shabaab militia on Sunday near the towns that boarder Kenya to the North and create a buffer zone with its border.

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