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Daily Nation
By DAVID KALINAKI
More by this Author
By ZADOCK ANGIRA
More by this Author
Tanzania helped foil terrorists attacks
intended to disrupt last years General
Election in Kenya and President Uhuru
Kenyattas swearing-in ceremony.
In an exclusive interview with Saturday
Nation, President Jakaya Kikwete
revealed, however, that the terrorists were
arrested, scuttling the attack plans.
I remember we had to deal with some
groups that wanted to disrupt the Kenyan
elections; they were trying to hide here
and we had to arrest them before the
Kenyan elections but these are issues that
we always deal with quietly, the
Tanzanian Head of State said.
His account was confirmed by senior
Kenyan security officials on condition of
anonymity as the matter was of utmost
secrecy.
Acting on information from the Tanzanian
authorities, four suspects were picked up
on the eve of the March 2013 elections.
About three others were arrested just
before President Kenyatta and Deputy
President William Ruto formally took the
oath of office at the Kasarani Stadium in
front of thousands of spectators and over a
dozen African Heads of State.
DIVULGE DETAILS
President Kenyatta and senior security
officials have previously hinted that Kenya
has on several occasions nipped in the bud,
plans for major terrorist attacks, even
though some, such as the Westgate Mall
attack, succeeded.
In a recent interview, President Kenyatta
praised security forces for stopping terror
attacks but declined to divulge details.
In Dar es Salaam, President Kikwete said
early this week that terrorism and
religious extremism remain key threats to
peace and stability in the region.
He said religious extremism went beyond
the scope of domestic political tensions.
The religious extremism has nothing to do
with the Union. It is a phenomenon that
we all have to grapple with all of us.
It is very much related to the Al-Qaeda
movement; the number of cells that they
have established all over the world.
It is something that we have been working
on jointly, sharing a lot of intelligence
information, he said.
The threat of terrorism has forced the
neighbouring countries to be on a constant
state of alert and to build capacities to
carry out investigations and remain ahead
of those planning such attacks.
It is a serious matter; a worldwide
problem. That time they were targeting US
establishments but these days they are
targeting our own people and our own
establishments, so it is something we are
concerned about.
Separate interviews with senior Kenyan
security officials revealed how close
working relations with Tanzania thwarted
at least two terror attacks targeting Kenya
early last year.
At least one terror suspect was killed in
Tanzania and seven others arrested.
PRESENTLY IN JAIL
Following reports that some attackers were
sneaking into Tanzania to plot attacks, the
National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the
Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service
(TISS) enhanced exchange of information,
leading to the arrests.
Late February 2013, at least 40 terror
suspects crossed to Kenya after undergoing
training in Somali.
As a result of heightened covert security
operations, about 10 of them were arrested
but five managed to sneak into Tanzania.
One of them was killed by security agents
there and another arrested and is
presently in jail.
Tanzania was also closely monitoring its
nationals who underwent terrorist training
in Nguluni, Kenya, before they returned
home.
Some are said to have fled to South Africa
where they are suspected to be plotting
some attacks.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr David
Kimaiyo Friday refused to comment on the
matter but confirmed that the Kenyan
security agents were working very closely
with the neighbouring countries in dealing
with transnational crimes.
The close working cooperation has been
very fruitful. We however cannot divulge
the details, he told the Saturday Nation on
Friday.
Mr Kimaiyo also said that the East African
Police Chiefs Cooperation meeting would
be held in Nairobi this August with the key
aim of strengthening existing relationships.
In January, a similar meeting was held in
Uganda.
By DAVID KALINAKI
More by this Author
By ZADOCK ANGIRA
More by this Author
Tanzania helped foil terrorists attacks
intended to disrupt last years General
Election in Kenya and President Uhuru
Kenyattas swearing-in ceremony.
In an exclusive interview with Saturday
Nation, President Jakaya Kikwete
revealed, however, that the terrorists were
arrested, scuttling the attack plans.
I remember we had to deal with some
groups that wanted to disrupt the Kenyan
elections; they were trying to hide here
and we had to arrest them before the
Kenyan elections but these are issues that
we always deal with quietly, the
Tanzanian Head of State said.
His account was confirmed by senior
Kenyan security officials on condition of
anonymity as the matter was of utmost
secrecy.
Acting on information from the Tanzanian
authorities, four suspects were picked up
on the eve of the March 2013 elections.
About three others were arrested just
before President Kenyatta and Deputy
President William Ruto formally took the
oath of office at the Kasarani Stadium in
front of thousands of spectators and over a
dozen African Heads of State.
DIVULGE DETAILS
President Kenyatta and senior security
officials have previously hinted that Kenya
has on several occasions nipped in the bud,
plans for major terrorist attacks, even
though some, such as the Westgate Mall
attack, succeeded.
In a recent interview, President Kenyatta
praised security forces for stopping terror
attacks but declined to divulge details.
In Dar es Salaam, President Kikwete said
early this week that terrorism and
religious extremism remain key threats to
peace and stability in the region.
He said religious extremism went beyond
the scope of domestic political tensions.
The religious extremism has nothing to do
with the Union. It is a phenomenon that
we all have to grapple with all of us.
It is very much related to the Al-Qaeda
movement; the number of cells that they
have established all over the world.
It is something that we have been working
on jointly, sharing a lot of intelligence
information, he said.
The threat of terrorism has forced the
neighbouring countries to be on a constant
state of alert and to build capacities to
carry out investigations and remain ahead
of those planning such attacks.
It is a serious matter; a worldwide
problem. That time they were targeting US
establishments but these days they are
targeting our own people and our own
establishments, so it is something we are
concerned about.
Separate interviews with senior Kenyan
security officials revealed how close
working relations with Tanzania thwarted
at least two terror attacks targeting Kenya
early last year.
At least one terror suspect was killed in
Tanzania and seven others arrested.
PRESENTLY IN JAIL
Following reports that some attackers were
sneaking into Tanzania to plot attacks, the
National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the
Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service
(TISS) enhanced exchange of information,
leading to the arrests.
Late February 2013, at least 40 terror
suspects crossed to Kenya after undergoing
training in Somali.
As a result of heightened covert security
operations, about 10 of them were arrested
but five managed to sneak into Tanzania.
One of them was killed by security agents
there and another arrested and is
presently in jail.
Tanzania was also closely monitoring its
nationals who underwent terrorist training
in Nguluni, Kenya, before they returned
home.
Some are said to have fled to South Africa
where they are suspected to be plotting
some attacks.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr David
Kimaiyo Friday refused to comment on the
matter but confirmed that the Kenyan
security agents were working very closely
with the neighbouring countries in dealing
with transnational crimes.
The close working cooperation has been
very fruitful. We however cannot divulge
the details, he told the Saturday Nation on
Friday.
Mr Kimaiyo also said that the East African
Police Chiefs Cooperation meeting would
be held in Nairobi this August with the key
aim of strengthening existing relationships.
In January, a similar meeting was held in
Uganda.
