Chief of Defence Forces Gen (Dr) Julius Karangi speaks during a special press briefing between members of the media and Kenya security forces at the Department of Defence headquarters October 29, 2013. Photo|Emma Nzioka
In Summary
Those sacked and jailed were identified as Victor Otieno and Victor Ashihundu, while the one still being investigated was identified as Mr Isaiah Wanjala Kulumba
The security chiefs sought to clear the air over several unanswered questions regarding the terrorist attack including widespread allegations of looting
By PETER LEFTIE
More by this Author
The Kenya Defence Forces on Monday admitted that some of its soldiers were involved in looting at the Westgate Mall following a terrorist attack in which 67 people were killed and 165 others injured.
The Chief of the Defence Forces, General Julius Karangi, said two soldiers had been sacked and jailed in connection with looting at the mall which was attacked by Al-Shabaab militants on September 21.
In the past, the military had denied that KDF soldiers were involved in looting, saying, those captured by CCTV cameras carrying paperbags from Nakumatt supermarket were carrying drinking water and that they had the authority of their commanders.
The military commander, however, defended his men against claims of widespread looting, insisting there were only isolated incidents that were being acted on.
Those sacked and jailed were identified as Victor Otieno and Victor Ashihundu, while the one still being investigated was identified as Mr Isaiah Wanjala Kulumba.
They were found with phones, cameras and battery chargers.
On Tuesday, Gen Karangi said the third soldier was facing court martial after being found with a mobile phone suspected to have been stolen at the mall.
He spoke at a rare press conference convened by security chiefs at the Department of Defence (DoD) headquarters in Nairobi.
Also present were Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo, the Inspector General of Police, Mr David Kimaiyo, the Director of Criminal intelligence, Mr Ndegwa Muhoro and senior military bosses.
NIS Director-General Michael Gichangi was absent.
As the press conference was going on in Nairobi, a theft case against a KDF soldier and a female accomplice at the Nakuru Law Courts was discharged in unclear circumstances.
The soldier, Mr Isaiah Wanjala Kulumba, and his lover, Ms Joyce Nafula Simiyu, were arrested by police in Nakuru on Monday evening on suspicion of having goods stolen from the Westgate mall.
Mr Wanjala is stationed at the 20 Para battalion at Kenyatta Barracks in Gilgil. The two were set to appear in court yesterday morning on accusations of carrying suspected stolen goods, but the case was discharged minutes after they had been driven to the court premises. (GAITHO: Why such falsehoods on the Westgate looting?)
STOLEN ELECTRONICS
According to the charge sheet, the two were to stand trial for being in possession of four mobile phones of different makes, a Sony projector camera and a Sony camera believed to have been stolen.
When the file was called, Superintendent Stephen Wambua said he had received instructions from the Officer Commanding Nakuru Central Police Station that investigations into the matter were incomplete and had been requested to have the matter withdrawn to facilitate further investigations.
“I hereby discharge the case under Section 87a of the Criminal Procedure Code,” said Ms Komingoi in the absence of the couple who were later whisked away by a white military police double cabin pick-up.
Mr Wambua, who is the head prosecutor in charge of the Nakuru Law Courts, said military police came into the court premises and demanded that Mr Wanjala and his “wife” be released to their custody.
The military police said Mr Wanjala was a soldier and could only be subjected to a trial before a court martial inside an army barrack. It was unclear how Ms Simiyu, who is not a soldier, was released unconditionally.
In Nairobi, the security chiefs sought to clear the air over several unanswered questions regarding the terrorist attack including widespread allegations of looting by soldiers, poor co-ordination and hostility between various security agencies involved in the operation.
Gen Karangi also said that two Administration Police officers and four civilians were arrested at the mall and were being investigated in connection with looting. One of the APs was allegedly found trying to steal a motor vehicle at the mall.
The two APs and four civilians were arrested and handed over to the Police because they could not be tried using the court martial system.
However, Administration Police spokesman Masoud Mwinyi said none of their officers was under investigation.
He said: “We have verified all the movements and actions of our officers at the site and we are able to confirm none was involved in any questionable activity there,” he said in a statement to the Nation. (Shame of soldiers looting Westgate - VIDEO)
IMPENDING ATTACK
Mr Kimaiyo said that the NIS did not issue any warning specifically touching on an impending attack at the mall, saying there was “general information” of possible attacks on key installations in the country.
KDF spokesman Cyrus Oguna accused media outlets and some Westgate shop owners of manipulating information to portray that the security forces involved in the operation looted shops at the mall.
He, however, admitted that eight soldiers caught on camera carrying plastic bags containing water bottles had actually picked them from a supermarket at the mall.
“They actually had permission from the officer in charge of the operation who may have appreciated that they were dehydrated after being in the place for 72 hours with no water... It could have been an error of judgment,” he said.
Gen Karangi and Mr Kimaiyo downplayed reports that KDF soldiers and their counterparts from the Recce Unit could have exchanged friendly fire causing fatalities on both sides. They said the reports were a creation of the media. He also disputed reports that some terrorists could have escaped through a tunnel running from the mall to a nearby stream.
No comments :
Post a Comment