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Kenya set to fight terrorism
26/09/2003 18:46 - (SA)
Nairobi - The Kenyan government plans to set up a national centre to co-ordinate the East African nation's efforts in combating terrorism, the president said on Friday.
President Mwai Kibaki said his administration had already approved funding for the centre, adding that Kenya - the victim of two deadly terrorist attacks in the last five years - will continue to develop its counterterrorism strategy.
"Internationally, the global war on terrorism must be won," Kibaki told intelligence personnel. "Kenyans have resolved, more than ever, to work as one people, to make it difficult, if not impossible, for these organised criminals to operate on our soil."
He said the centre would "co-ordinate all our security efforts in fighting terrorism."
No further details were available.
US officials believe that members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network are active in the East African nation. US officials have in the past been critical of the Kenya's efforts tackling terrorism.
At least 10 Kenyans and three Israeli tourists were killed in a November 28 car bombing of a coastal hotel, and in 1998, a car bomb exploded outside the US Embassy in Nairobi, killing 219 people, including 12 Americans.
Both attacks were blamed on al-Qaeda.
During his five-country tour of Africa in July, US President George W Bush avoided Kenya because of security concerns, despite the nation's regional importance. Kibaki has, however, been invited to the United States on what will be the fourth official state visit of Bush's term, and the first by an African head of state.
When the visit, which begins October 6, was announced, Bush's press secretary Scott McClellan said, "Kenya is at the forefront in fighting the global war on terror and is a leader in promoting regional stability through its mediation and peacekeeping efforts."
Kibaki took office December 30 after leading an opposition alliance to a victory that ended the 39-year rule of the Kenya African National Union party.
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