Kenya government yet to release identities of Westgate attack suspects

Kenya Interior Minister Joseph ole Lenku issues details of
 the investigation into Westgate Mall attack. [Photo: Standard]

September 29th 2013 

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU and CYRUS OMBATI

NAIROBI; KENYA: The government Sunday announced that it is still holding nine suspects of the Westgate attack.

Interior Affairs cabinet secretary Joseph Lenku said that police had taken witnesses statements from 56 persons, while it had identified one of the cars used by the terrorists.

He said the suspects are being held under counter-terrorism laws while indicating that their identities or nationalities will not be revealed.

“As soon as investigations are complete, we will update you with identities of suspects. It’s premature to releases details now as that might prejudice on-going investigations,” Lenku said.

Addressing journalists after a daylong meeting, the cabinet secretary said forensic experts have recovered crucial items, which include assortment of weapons used in the terror attack.

The country’s top security chiefs had held a long crisis meeting on the aftermath of the Westgate Shopping Mall terror attack amid blame game among them on how it was handled.

Those present in meeting at Harambee House included Raychelle Omamo (defence), military chief Gen Julius Karangi and police boss David Kimaiyo and his deputies, spy master Michael Gichangi, CID’s Francis Muhoro and interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo.

This came as the fate of 61 people reported as missing from the terror attack deepened even as government officials kept mum.

Officials at Kenya Red Cross said the government had taken over the list of the names of those missing and it is now in control even as government disputed this.

“We are not are of any missing person since no one has reported to police of a missing relative or friend. We are calling on those NGOs who may have information on missing persons to hand it over to police,” Lenku said.

On issuing of travel advisories for Kenya by US state department, the minister said the move is "counter-productive" in fight against global terrorism. He requested the US to lift the advisory as other European Union states have not issued.