Two Tanzanians held at border in terror crackdown

From right: Deputy Inspector-General of Police Samuel Arachi, Interior Principal Secretary Monica Juma, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, National Police Service Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi and Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet outside Harambee House on April 21, 2015. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• They are among 57 people captured since Garissa University College attack.

By ELVIS ONDIEKI
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Kenyan security agents have arrested two Tanzanians at Isibania on the Kenya-Tanzania border as they attempted to recruit Kenyan women into Al-Shabaab, the Interior ministry said on Saturday.

Also, a man is now in custody after his photograph was circulated by police in the media for taking part in a June 14 dawn attack on Baure military camp in Lamu County.

Interior Cabinet Secretary, retired Major-General Joseph Nkaissery, said the three are among 57 people captured over terror-related offences since the April 2 attack on Garissa University College.

He said the two Tanzanians were arrested on Friday.

Speaking at a press briefing to explain the state of security, Mr Nkaissery said the 57 include 48 foreigners arrested in Garissa, Mandera and Wajir counties after police were tipped off by the public.

Also among them is suspected terrorist Abdulhakim Abdul Samad “who claimed to be a Briton born of Somali ancestry in Lamu but currently resides at 27 Rufford Tower, Lexeden in London”.

“He claims to have settled in London in 2000 and works at Harrods Department Store,” Gen Nkaissery said.

“The suspect was stopped at Witu roadblock but failed to stop. Police pursued him and arrested him at Gamba. He had no passport or driving licence.”

Others in the list of those arrested, he added, are six youths “believed to be from Somalia and one person who has links with Al-Shabaab”.

“The arrest was done in Makaburini area in Kakamega County. They are all under interrogation,” he said.

The minister asked Kenyans to inform the police whenever they lose their identification documents.

“Foreign criminals are illegally acquiring Kenyan national identity cards and indigenous names in an effort to try and blend with our communities. We remind Kenyans that loss of personal identification documents like identity cards, birth certificates and passports should be reported to the police immediately and an abstract to that effect obtained. This will further help the authorities to flag out such documents and invalidate their illicit usage.”

He said the arrest made at the Isebania border was proof that terrorists were spreading all over Kenya.

“This illustrates the desperate efforts these criminals are making from all corners of our country in their effort to harm us,” he said, adding that the Tanzanians were being investigated and would be taken to court soon.

“But let me point out that we are increasingly focusing on the points of operations by these groups internally and externally to exterminate them. We are gradually dismantling them and soon we will purge these criminals from our midst,” he added.

Mr Nkaissery said Kenya condemns incidents that occurred in Somalia, Tunisia, France, Syria and Kuwait on Friday “where dozens of innocent people lost their lives at the hands of terrorists”.

“Kenya condemns these acts and stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters all over the world in the fight against terrorism and in propagating for a safer environment free of terror.

“My assurance is that all our security agencies are and will remain vigilant throughout this period (of Ramadhan) and beyond,” he said.

The minister asked the public to keep informing security agencies of any suspicious activity.