NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 25 – The leadership of the Udubland region of Somalia has welcomed Kenya’s military offensive against the Al Shabaab militia.
Ibrahim Abdullahi Addow, who is the president of the semi autonomous region, said on Tuesday that Kenya has the moral obligation of protecting its country and has all the rights to do what it can to guard its land and people.
He also condemned latest incidences of kidnappings and grenade attacks saying it was unfortunate and described those responsible for such acts as ‘cowards’.
“Some cowardly acts that have recently taken place in the soils of Kenya, I would like to extend my condolences, this type of vicious cowardice act, we condemn it with the strongest terms,” he asserted as he called on Kenyan neighbours to work with the country in addressing such crimes. “We will collaborate with Kenya; we are not going to hide because such people (Al Shabaab) do not represent us.”
Addow appreciated that Kenya has always supported Somalia in various issues and it was not right that such attacks were going on; “We are hosted by a great neighbour and a great nation Kenya.”
Meanwhile, security remained tight in most of the public places within the City of Nairobi following two grenade attacks on Sunday and Monday.
A spot check by Capital News revealed that security guards are equipped with security gadgets to detect any destructive weapons entering public premises.
At Kenyatta International Conference Centre, people and their luggage were being screened thoroughly.
The public resting place in front of Hilton Hotel remained a no go zone as security officers dressed in civilian clothes cordoned it off.
One of them who did not want to be on record has told Capital News that keeping away idlers is one of the security measures they are undertaking following the two grenade attacks in Nairobi.
“You know what has happened, so we are asking people not to sit here for the sake of maintaining security,” the officer said.
At Nairobi’s railway station people said they did not feel protected as it was hard to detect who the attackers were.
“Like for us cart riders (mkokoteni) how can someone tell what I am carrying with all these sacks? We can only ask God to protect us, there is nothing much we an do,” said one of the business people at the rail way station.
Another hawker said he believed the Kenyan police and army will manage to protect Kenya as he wished them the best in their operation in Somalia, “We have faith in our army, I am sure they will bring to an end to all these attacks, it is unfortunate that we have had some grenade attacks, but we should not give up.”
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