Israel detectives have taken over the security management of Westgate Shopping Mall at a time terror threats facing Kenya from the al Shabaab militant group remain at an all-time high.
The scenario unfolded amid intensified police surveillance as the country marks the second anniversary of the tragic Westgate mall terror attack today.
Despite heightened public caution in crowded areas , police sources indicate surveillance has increased although there is no credible threat to malls and other public areas perceived as soft targets.
Surveillance technologies and use of sophisticated CCTV cameras control from the National Police Service Command Centre has eased police monitoring both within and outside the city centre.
Undercover detectives have also been deployed in areas profiled as hotspots for youth radicalisation and indoctrination into the extremist group.
Although Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and police spokesperson Charles Owino did not respond to calls and short text messages sent to them, sources privy to the security operations said synergy between police and the national spy agency, National Intelligence Service (NIS) has led to multiple prevention and pre-empting of terror plots.
“The issues of policing strategies by the National Police Service are handled by the office of the Inspector General. Mine is just the Kenya Police Service.
Kindly seek concurrence from the IG office.” Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Service Joel Kitili told People Daily on the phone. However, there has been sustained calls encouraging civilians to remain vigilant and be aware of their surroundings especially in shopping malls, schools, churches and commercial areas.
Kenyans have shown overwhelming resilience by thronging the recently re-opened Westgate Mall Shopping in which at least 67 people were killed and 100 others injured.
A memorial plaque with names of the victims unveiled last year serves as a reminder of horrific atrocities meted against innocent children, women and men two years ago. The infamous siege lasted four days in parts of the shopping mall were destroyed amid heavy fighting.
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