Boinnet says the police are reliably informed that other Al Shabaab operatives in Somalia are planning to take advantage of the El Nino rains to cross into Kenya.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 23 – Days after the Police released the names and photos of five suspected Al Shabaab operatives, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet has called on Kenyans to be on high alert this rainy season and assist police avert terror strikes.
Boinnet says the police are reliably informed that other Al Shabaab operatives in Somalia are planning to take advantage of the El Nino rains to cross into Kenya.
“Available information indicates that others could be mobilising in Somalia and may take advantage of the rainy season to infiltrate through our borders and stage attacks in North Eastern and the Coast regions as well as in Nairobi,” he said.
He said it was imperative for Kenyans to report anything out of the ordinary to the security agencies.
“Make use of the telephone numbers given by respective station and county commanders including emergency call lines 999, 911 and 112.”
He’s also called for co-operation when searches are conducted making it clear that government vehicles are not exempt.
“Especially when they are carrying out searches at entrances to public places and private institutions including social joints, bus stations, shopping malls, places of worship and learning institutions among other places.”
On Mashujaa Day, the police released the photos and names of five suspected Al Shabaab operatives who they said the public should be on the lookout for.
They include one female, a possible suicide bomber, by the name of Shamim Wanjiru Hussein.
Police say the 26-year-old has been married to several Al Shabaab operatives and may be used to stage an attack similar to those carried out by the Boko Haram in Nigeria where they’ve deployed female suicide bombers.
Her husband, Patroba Juma Owiti, is also on the list and is believed to have lived in Umoja before travelling to Somalia in 2013 to join the Al Shabaab. It is believed that he participated in an attack on a Kenya Defence Forces base in Lamu.
Former Mathare United player Anwar Yogan Mwok is also believed to have lived in Umoja prior to joining the Jaysh Ayman Al Shabaab cell.
“Anwar owns a significant amount of properties within Umoja area in Nairobi, some of which it is suspected that he has disposed of and that the proceeds of those properties are used to finance Al-Shabaab activities targeting Kenya,” the profile released by the Police reads.
The younger brother of slain Al Shabaab recruiter Hassan Omondi Owiti alias Budalangi is also wanted. It’s believed that together with his brother, he was radicalised at the Pumwani Riyadha Mosque.
Last on the list is Ramadhan Kioko also known as Pinji, slang for pick-pocket. A former resident of Majengo, Kioko who joined the Al Shabaab in 2008 is also believed to have recruited his son Abdulmalik.
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