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Kenya beefs up security ahead of heroes' day celebration

Xinhua, October 20, 2015

• The Kenyan government has intensified surveillance at all ports of entry, residential and business premises ahead of national heroes' day to be observed on Tuesday, senior officials said Monday.

  Regional Commissioner for Nairobi County Njoroge Ndirangu told a media briefing those security agencies have been put on high alert to deter homegrown and external threats.

  "Adequate measures have been taken to ensure maximum security during the heroes' day celebration. Security agents have already secured the venue where the event will take place," said Ndirangu.

  He added that security officers will be deployed to Nairobi's major highways and residential districts to protect citizens from criminal elements.

  President Uhuru Kenyatta will address the national heroes' day to be graced by senior government officials, foreign dignitaries' and ordinary citizens.

  The heroes' day was designated by the new constitution as a public holiday to honour Kenya's liberation heroes. Ndirangu said Kenyans from all walks of life have been invited to the national fete.

  He added that besides screening of invited guests, both regular and paramilitary officers will man strategic locations around the stadium where the national fete will be observed.

  "All persons and vehicles heading to the venue of heroes' day event will undergo rigorous security checks. No effort will be spared to ensure the event runs smoothly," Ndirangu said.

  He urged the public to report suspicious characters to security agents during the national heroes' day celebration. Kenyan security forces have maintained vigilance following threats from domestic and foreign terrorist organizations.

  The east African nation has bore the brunt of attacks from Somalia based terror group Al-Shabaab since 2010 when its troops entered the horn of African state to flush out the militants.

  Currently, an elite military unit is pursuing Al-Shabaab fighters in the expansive Boni forest that stretches from the coast region to Somalia.

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