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Garissa town has remained volatile since Kenya sent its military to pursue Al Shabaab in Somalia in November 2011. Photo/FILE.

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Uhuru orders police to stem insecurity in Garissa

Garissa town has remained volatile since Kenya sent its military to pursue Al Shabaab in Somalia in November 2011. Photo/FILE.

Garissa town has remained volatile since Kenya sent its military to pursue Al Shabaab in Somalia in November 2011. Photo/FILE.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 20- President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday directed top security chiefs to visit Garissa and thoroughly investigate rampant insecurity in the area after killings of ten people on Thursday night.

Head of the Civil Service Francis Kimemia said the president wants security forces to dismantle criminal gangs and terror groups operating in the border town in order to restore peace.

Kimemia said the president was concerned about the increased insecurity cases in the region, with blasts and gun attacks targeting both police and civilians.

“The President has directed the security chiefs to go to Garissa and do whatever should be done to apprehend the notorious criminal cell operating within Garissa and the (Dadaab) Refugee Camps,” Kimemia said.

And following the directive, a high-powered security team led by Internal Security PS Mutea Iringo and Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo visited Garissa where to assess the security situation.

While in Garissa, the officials were taken to the scene of latest attacks before they held a meeting with the provincial and district security teams.

Kimaiyo told Capital FM News that he had ordered regional police chiefs to direct the investigations on recent attacks and form specialised units charged with tracking down terror groups operating in the region.

The statement from Kimemia said Kenyatta expects to get a security briefing on the security situation and investigation progress before Monday.

Available statistics show that more than 150 people have been killed and many more injured in attacks orchestrated by gunmen associated with Al Shabaab in border towns of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.

The latest attack occurred on Thursday night when four gunmen stormed a restaurant known as Kwa Chege and sprayed patrons with bullets indiscriminately, killing ten people.

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“Local leaders must support security agencies in the operation to weed out the criminals. The Provincial Security and Intelligence Committee (PSIC) and the District Security and Intelligence Committee (DSIC) must be convened immediately to resolve the issue,” Kimemia said of the president’s directive.

Following the Thursday night incident, police said they had arrested over 100 people for interrogation but the real culprits were still at large.

Garissa and neighbouring border towns have remained volatile in recent months, with gun and explosion attacks targeting law enforcement agents and civilians ever since Kenya sent its military to pursue Al Shabaab militants in Somalia.

Thursday night’s attack was also blamed on the Al Qaeda-linked militants although the group was yet to claim responsibility.

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