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Boinnet urges extra public vigilance over terrorism

Boinnet says following the incursion on an African Union base in Somalia Friday morning and recent terror attacks in Indonesia, there is need to increase Kenya's level of security/FILE

Boinnet says following the incursion on an African Union base in Somalia Friday morning and recent terror attacks in Indonesia, there is need to increase Kenya’s level of security/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 – Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet is urging Kenyans to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity or persons, because of increased terror threats across the globe.

Boinnet says following the incursion on an African Union base in Somalia Friday morning and recent terror attacks in Indonesia, there is need to increase Kenya’s level of security.

He is particularly urging hotel operators, landlords and Public Service Vehicle operators to thoroughly vet their patrons.

“We call upon all people assigned duties across the country to undertake it diligently in their areas of responsibility for example matatu drivers and conductors to be keen on the people boarding their vehicles and more so the luggage in PSV vehicles unaccompanied or unattended,” he said through a statement read by Kenya Police Spokesperson Charles Owino.

Kenya has been hit by a series of terror attacks in the past, mainly in Mombasa, Nairobi and towns bordering Somalia.

“All vehicles, whether GK or parastatal must go through search at points of entry in offices, buildings, malls among others before being allowed entry,” he emphasised.

Police are yet to recover two diplomatic number plates stolen in Mombasa late last year.

Boinnet cautioned that the attack on AMISOM could be diversionary for the terrorist to execute their plans in Kenya.

For the better part of Friday, African Union forces were battling the Al Shabaab attackers west of Mogadishu, after the raid.

Reports indicated that the attack began when the insurgents rammed a suicide car bomb at the military base to gain entry.

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The Shabaab, fighting to overthrow Somalia’s internationally-backed and AU protected government, has launched a string of similar attacks.

In September 2015, Shabaab fighters stormed a Ugandan AMISOM base in Janale district, 80 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region.

And in June, Shabaab killed dozens of Burundian soldiers when they overran an AMISOM outpost northwest of Mogadishu.

But the 22,000-strong AMISOM force has also made significant gains against the Shabaab, pushing them out of several strongholds in the southwest of the country.

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