Kenya exonerates Al-Shabaab of Mpeketoni attacks

By James Shimanyula

NAIROBI 

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday exonerated the Al-Shabaab militant group of two recent attacks on the remote coastal town of Mpeketoni, blaming them instead on local politicians and vowing to prosecute security officials for ignoring earlier warnings.

"The attack[s] in Lamu was well-planned, orchestrated and politically motivated ethnic violence against the Kenyan community [with the] intention of profiling and evicting [people] for political reasons," Kenyatta said in a national address.

He did not name the politicians in question.

But Kenyatta was clearer when exonerating Somali militant group Al-Shabaab, which had already claimed responsibility for the twin attacks.

"This, therefore, was not an Al-Shabaab terrorist attack," Kenyatta insisted. "Evidence indicates that local political networks were involved in the planning and execution of the heinous attacks."

At least nine people were killed and a number of others wounded in late Monday's attacks in the usually sleepy town of Mpeketoni near the Somali border.

The fresh attack came as Kenya was still recovering from news that at least 53 people had been killed the previous evening in an attack on a local police station and three hotels.

Prosecution

Kenyatta, moreover, accused Mpeketoni security officials of failing to act on advance intelligence about the impending attack.

"It is now clear that intelligence on this attack was availed to security officers in Mpeketoni," he said. "Unfortunately, the officers did not act accordingly."

"This negligence and abdication of duty and responsibility are unacceptable," the president added.

He said all concerned officers had since been suspended and would be charged immediately in a court of law.

"We will also focus on actors and other entities that are actively engaged in flashpoints around the country," Kenyatta added.

He went on to rebuke opposition politicians who had delivered fiery speeches at recent public rallies in Nairobi and in the coastal city of Mombasa.

"Those of you given to ill thought, intemperate and reckless speech and conduct are now on notice that they will be [held accountable] in accordance with the law," said Kenyatta.

"Kenyans, and the government in particular, have over the last several days observed frenzied political rhetoric laced with ethnic profiling of some Kenyan communities – an obvious act of incitement to lawlessness and possible violence," he added.

"Reckless incitement and negative propaganda do not constitute responsible leadership and will not be tolerated," the president said.

He vowed that his administration would not allow Kenya to take the route of "ethnic division and political violence."

He appeared to be referring to the spate of violence that rocked Kenya following a disputed 2007 presidential poll, which had involved current opposition leader Raila Odinga and then-president Mwai Kibaki. More than 1300 people were ultimately killed in the violence.

"I reiterate that Kenya will not go that route again," Kenyatta asserted.

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