Officials in Kenya disregarded advance warnings of imminent attack, newspaper reports claim
Bustling NAIROBI: The government of Kenya was given ample warnings, even from Israel, about the increased risk of a devastating attack. Yet, despite these alerts, the horrific siege on a luxury mall by militant extremists still occurred. Cabinet ministers and the army chief received these disturbing intelligence reports, as confirmed by multiple sources. However, it appears that the warnings missed their mark, as no significant action was taken based on the information provided. An anonymous official explained that Israel had issued warnings about potential assaults on their business interests, but the information in the intelligence reports was not acted upon.
On September 21, 2013, heavily armed gunmen stormed the upscale Westgate mall in Nairobi. This assault, which lasted a punishing four days, left at least 67 individuals dead and sent shockwaves throughout the city. The Somalia-based terrorist group, Al-Qaeda-linked Shabab, claimed responsibility, stating that the attack was retaliation for Kenya's military presence in Somalia. The Nation newspaper reported that bankers, the interior and foreign affairs ministers, the defense minister, and the army chief had been briefed about the elevated risk of terrorism and the potential for coordinated attacks in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Some reported indicate that Israel had warned about plans to attack Israeli-owned properties in September, a month filled with Jewish holidays. Popular among expatriates and the wealthy, the Westgate mall – which had long been considered a prime target – is part-owned by Israelis. A leaked intelligence report suggested that the Israeli embassy in Nairobi had raised concerns with the foreign affairs ministry regarding Iran and Hezbollah's intelligence gathering and interest in Israeli and Jewish targets.
Security sources claim that Israeli services are playing a pivotal role in the ongoing investigation into the attack, during which gunmen wreaked havoc, spraying bullets indiscriminately on shoppers before holding out against special forces for three days. Following the end of the siege and the announcement from President Uhuru Kenyatta, the head of Kenya's National Intelligence Service, Michael Gichangi, is set to face questioning by lawmakers. Concerns have been growing that the state was unprepared for such an attack. Security officials lament the fact that reports warning of the attack started surfacing last year, but they were not taken seriously.
A concerned source revealed that intelligence reports highlighting specific targets, including the Westgate mall, were being circulated across the government. However, these reports were not treated with the urgency they warranted. The source adds that the state needs to learn from this attack and start taking potential threats seriously. Fearful of losing his job, the source requested anonymity. Without sufficient warnings or adequate responses, this vicious attack on the Westgate mall tragically claimed the lives of numerous civilians, soldiers, and gunmen.
- The general-news outlets reported that Israel had issued warnings about potential attacks on Israeli-owned properties, specifically the Westgate mall in Nairobi, which is part-owned by Israelis.
- In the aftermath of the horrific siege on the Westgate mall, concerns have been raised about the government's failure to act on intelligence reports that singled out specific targets, including the mall, months before the attack.
- News reports suggest that the Somalia-based terrorist group, Al-Qaeda-linked Shabab, had claimed responsibility for the attack on the Westgate mall, attributing it to Kenya's military presence in Somalia.
- Prior to the attack, East Africa's political landscape was dominated by news about the country's business sector, with reports of potential assaults on Israeli business interests circulating in September, a month filled with Jewish holidays.
