Kenyan police arrest dozens in security crackdown

Kenyan police said Friday they have arrested some 65 foreign suspects, most of them refugees who abandoned camps, in a major security crackdown in the east African nation's northeast region. Trans-Nzoia County police commander Lillian Okembo said dozens of foreigners, including a Canadian national, have been arrested as the security crackdown enters its fourth day. "Some of the aliens were seized within the town and others while on transit to Turkana County. Most of those seized are Somali and Sudanese refugees who left the camps and rented residential homes in Kitale and urban centers in the county," Okembo told Xinhua in Kitale. The Canadian national of Somali origin, identified as Hassan Abdulahi Hasa, was arrested from a hotel in Kitale, and is being interrogated before being handed over the anti-terrorism unit. Okembo said a screening exercise on the foreigners had been launched with the help of officers from the anti-terrorism unit. "We are holding several foreigners and we are screening them to establish their origin and reasons of being in the country without legal documents," Okembo said. Kakuma, the second largest camp in Kenya after Daadab, is home to 72,000 refugees. Among them are 45,000 Somalis, 15,000 South Sudanese and others from Ethiopia, Rwanda and Burundi. The population increase in Kakuma is particularly worrying as Kakuma had been previously considered for the relocation and decongestion of the Dadaab refugee camp that is currently holding more than 470,000 individuals - three times its original capacity. The local police commander said nine of those arrested were found boarding a passenger vehicle they had hired to transport them to Kakuma town. Okembo said police have erected roadblocks along Kitale-Lodwar highway to check on entry of foreigners into the country. "We have stepped in measures to check on the influx of aliens and terrorists into the country," she added. She said all refugees are supposed to be in their camps and not to roam and settle outside the recommend areas. Sources said suspects of Al-Shabaab are operating from Kakuma refugee camp where they plan their attacks. Last week, police arrested three people suspected to have close links with Al-Shabaab as local leaders called on the government to beef up security along Kenya's border with Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia to check on the influx of light weapons and terrorists. Kenya has been at a verge of terrorism threats by Islamist extremists allied to Al-Shaabab and Al-Qaida militia after Kenyan forces took control of the insurgents' stronghold in Somalia. The recent terror at Westgate mall in Kenya's capital Nairobi that left over 70 civilians dead and dozens wounded was blamed on the militants from neighboring Somalia. The Kenyan government has said security has been put on high alert to combat further terror across the country. Security also been beefed up at Kakuma refugee camp and in major towns to forestall any further terrorists threats, a security official has said. Turkana West police commander Jonathan Ngala said tight security measures have been introduced at Kakuma refugee camp to deter Al-Shabaab militants from hiding there.