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Soma Hotuba Muhimu na Nzito Aliyoisoma Rais Jakaya Kikwete Wakati Akihutubia Kikao cha 68 cha Baraza Kuu la Umoja wa Mataifa jana jijini New York Marekani Jana

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 Rais Dk. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akihutubia kikao cha 68 cha Baraza kuu la Umoja wa Mataifa jana jijini New York Marekani.

   Rais Dk. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akikutana na Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa Ban- Ki- Moon ofisini kwake muda mfupi kabla ya kuhutubia kikao cha 68 cha Baraza Kuu la Umoja wa Mataifa jijini New York Marekani.

  Rais Dkt.Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akikutana na Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa Ban- Ki- Moon ofisini kwake muda mfupi kabla ya kuhutubia kikao cha 68 cha Baraza Kuu la Umoja wa Mataifa jijini New York Marekani jana mchanaPicha na Freddy Maro-IKULU

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Mr. President;

 

Mr. Secretary-General;

 

Excellencies;

 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

 

Allow me to begin by congratulating you Mr. President on your well-deserved election to steer the affairs of 68^th General Assembly of our esteemed organisation.  As I congratulate you, I would like to assure you of Tanzania’s support and cooperation in the discharge of your responsibilities.  I also wish to acknowledge and commend your predecessor, His Excllency Vuc Jeremic for his outstanding leadership of the 67^th General Assembly.  A lot was achieved because of his visionary and wise leadership. 

 
 

In the same vein, I would like to pay glowing tribute to our illustrious Secretary General for the excellent work he is doing for the United Nations and humanity at large. 

 
 

My delegation and I, find the theme of this year’s General Assembly to be timely and very opportune. Indeed, we should start now to set the stage for the post 2015 development agenda. Hence, for the theme of this 68^th General Assembly to be “Post-2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage” is the wisest thing to do. It affords us the opportunity to know where we are with regard to the Millennium Development Goals and decide what needs to be done to complete the unfinished business and enable us to make informed decision beyond 2015. 

 
 

The Status of MDGs

 

Mr. President;

 

Millennium Development Goals framework is the best development framework ever developed to address global and national development challenges.  The world has never witnessed such a coalescence of concerted efforts into a unified framework.  It is heartwarming indeed to note that progress towards attaining MDGs has been made in the last 13 years.  However, the progress varies from one goal to another and is highly uneven among nations and continents. 

 
 

Mr. President;

 

Although extreme poverty has been halved at the global level, over 1.2 billion people are still trapped in extreme poverty; and an estimated 19,000 children under the age of five and around 800women die every day mostly from preventable and curable diseases and other causes. This is totally unacceptable in the world of plenty we live in today where there is unprecedented advancement in science and technology which can be leveraged to solve almost all development challenges facing humanity.  In a world which has enough food to feed everybody, nobody should go hungry or be undernourished.  In a world with so much wealth, there is no reason why poverty, hunger and deprivation should ever continue to inflict pain and cause misery to many people.  It is incomprehensible therefore, why the MDG’s could not be attained to the fullest.

 
 

This reality must be taken into account when we attempt to find ways to tackle unfinished business of the 2000 MDGs and design the post-2015 development agenda.  Mechanism must be put in place to ensure that sources of financing will be adequate and reliable.  

 

Mr. President;

 

Tanzania made significant progress in implementing the MDGs.  We have already achieved the targets in four of the eight MDGs well before the set deadline of 2015. On MDG 2 we have achieved a target on universal primary education enrolment. On MDG 3 we have achieved target of parity of boys and girls in both primary and secondary schools enrolment.  This is different from the past when there were more boys than girls.  As a matter of fact, the trend appears to be tilting towards getting more girls than boys in the near future.  We are yet to meet targets with regard to the ratio of females to males in tertiary education and in position of decision making particularly Parliament.  However, it is possible to achieve the target on Parliamentarians by 2015 by taking advantage of the ongoing Constitutional review process.   

 
 

We are on target with regard to reducing HIV/AIDS infection rate, the requirement of MDG 6.  Similarly, we have attained MDG 4 on Child Mortality which is big achievement indeed, compared to where we were in the year 2000.  But it is depressing we are not on track with regard to MDG 5 on Maternal Health.  We are intensifying efforts to do better in order to improve the maternal health among Tanzania women.

With regard to MDG 7 on Environmental Sustainability we are on target with regard to drinking water for urban population.  But, we are lagging behind with respect to rural water supply as well as access to improved sanitation both in rural and urban areas.

 

That notwithstanding, we have not relented in our pursuit of the targets in the MDGs which we are not likely to achieve by 2015.

 

 This will be the unfinished business for which we need to take action probably over and above what we are doing.  We are lagging far behind with regard to MDG 1 in its four main indicators.  There is not much possibility of achieving the targets despite the efforts we have been making. 

 
 

We have been intensifying actions to transform and modernise our agriculture.  Our aim is to increase productivity and farmers’ incomes as well as ensure food and nutrition security for themselves and the nation.  Agriculture  employs 75 percent of the Tanzania population and this is where the majority of poor are concentrated. Improved agriculture means less poor and hungry people.  Plans are also underway to expand the conditional cash transfer programme under the Tanzania Social Action Fund supported by the World Bank.  We want to increase the size of investment to benefit more vulnerable people so as to accelerate the implementation of MDG 1 in the shortest possible time.

 

Mr. President;

 

Generally, it remains my firm belief that despite some failures, MDGs have been nothing short of a remarkable success. If the developed countries provided the financing as envisaged under MDG 8 and as per the Monterrey Consensus and their own commitment in different fora of the G8 and G20, we would have implemented all the MDGs to the letter and spirit.  It is in this regard we would find unrealistic any approach to the post-2015 Development agenda that does not address the critical issue of ensuring adequate financing.  This is also true with regard to accelerating implementation of the MDGs in the remaining period.   

 

We will continue to look at the United Nations for guidance and leadership in steering both processes to their successful conclusion.

 

The Reform of the United Nations

 

Mr. President;

 

The fact that the United Nations needs reform is a matter of little disagreement. Our collective failure to respond to this reality creates scepticism on our common resolve to strengthen an institution that is meant to serve nations and peoples. The reform we demand is long overdue. While we welcome discussions on the reform of the ECOSOC, Africa will not relent in demanding reform of the Security Council so that the continent, with the largest membership of the UN, has a permanent voice. 

 

Global and Regional Conflict Situation

 

Mr. President;

 

Regrettably conflicts have continued to interfere in our development endeavours as they linger on in different parts of the world, from the Sahel to eastern DRC, Syria to Afghanistan, and other areas. They have caused enormous loss of innocent lives as populations continue to endure untold sufferings. The recent use of chemical weapons in Syria as confirmed by the United Nations inspections team to kill innocent people is rather distressing. We condemn such flagrant and senseless killing of innocent people including children in Syria. We commend the Secretary General and the UNSC for way they handle the matter.  I believe the doors for a peaceful solution to the Syrian problem are not closed and that a military solution should be the last resort.  

 
 

The Situation in the Great Lakes Region and DRC

 

Mr. President;

 

The United Republic of Tanzania regrets to see the suffering of the people of DRC as a consequence of the conflict in Eastern DRC has continued for far too long.  We hope this time around the initiative of the Secretary General which resulted in the establishment of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Great Lakes Region and DRC signed in February, 2013 will deliver lasting peace, security and development for the DRC and the Great Lakes Region. We highly commend the UN Secretary General for his vision and leadership in this regards.  We welcome the choice of Her Excellency Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland as the United Nations’ Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region.  She will surely help advance the cause of peace in the region if supported by all of us in the region and the international community. 

 
 

Part of the enduring problem facing the DRC is the proliferation of armed groups with varied interests. Bolder action is required to uproot these negative elements. These groups should be neutralized and disarmed.    It is in this context that we welcomed MONUSCO’s expanded mandate as per resolution 2098 (2013) of the Security Council that among other things established the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB).  Tanzania agreed to contribute troops to the FIB because it can help to deter belligerence and create a conducive environment for a political process to take effect.  Of course the panacea to the DRC problem is political rather than military.

 

Tanzania’s Role in Peacekeeping

 

Mr. President;

 

Since 2007 Tanzania has become proactive in contributing troops to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. With over 2,500 peace keepers in Lebanon, Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we are the 6^th contributor of military and police peacekeepers in Africa and 12^thglobally. We are partaking this noble endeavour, as members of the United Nations with the duty of advancing and upholding the ideals of our esteemed organisation. 

 

We are satisfied that our contribution, though modest, is having a broader impact to those who have experienced the horrors of conflict. In this endeavours our peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price as was the case with the loss of we seven brave soldiers in Darfur, Sudan under UNAMID and two in Eastern DRC under MONUSCO. These are our national heroes whose sacrifices are not in vain. 

 
 

The death of our peacekeepers was a grim reminder of the dangers facing peacekeepers around the world. It is disturbing that, armed groups and peace spoilers are increasingly attacking these servants of peace. We must unreservedly condemn all these attacks as there is no cause or justification for such barbaric attack which constitute a crime under international law. The UN Security Council whose primary role is the maintenance of international peace and security should be in the forefront in condemning such barbaric acts in good time.

 

Unilateral Sanctions and Embargo

 

Mr. President;

 

At this juncture, I wish to reiterate our call for ending unilateral economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba which has lasted for more than 50 years. Our call to end this unilateral embargo is not only predicated on its legality but also on humanitarian concerns particularly the negative effects of the quality of life of innocent Cubans.  

 

We are deeply encouraged by recent developments especially of removing restrictions on family travel, cash remittances and telecommunication services. We believe this spirit will culminate into total cessation of the embargo in not to distant a future so that Cubans will be relieved of enormous economic, social and financial hardships they have endured for far too long. 

 

Western Sahara

 

Mr. President;

 

The quest to resolve the dispute over the sovereignty of Western Sahara is also long overdue.  It is high time that the United Nations took bold actions to give the people of Saharawi the opportunity to decide on their fate.  It is incomprehensible why the Security Council which has been able to handle bigger security challenges cannot decide on the matter for nearly forty years now. 

 

International Criminal Court

 

Excellencies;

 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

 

          You will agree with me that the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC) was a major milestone of the international criminal justice system.  Indeed, the Court's creation as a machinery for fighting impunity was only possible with the support of Africa. 

 
 

          However, a decade after its entry into force, a rift has grown between the Court and the continent. The court is perceived as irresponsive to what are, in our view, legitimate concerns of African people.  

 
 

          It continues to ignore repeated requests and appeals by the African Union.  It was sad to note that legitimate requests regarding the timing of the trials of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Rutto went unanswered.  This attitude has become a major handicap that fails to reconcile the Court's secondary and complementary role in fighting impunity. Indeed, the Court's rigidity has proven counterproductive and stands to undermine the support it enjoys in Africa. 

 
 

Terrorist Attack in Kenya

 

          Tanzania condemns in the strongest terms possible the cowardly terrorist attack that happened last week at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya which left at over 60 innocent people dead and hundreds others injured. I spoke and wrote to President Uhuru Kenyatta to express our sadness and dismay.  I also reaffirm our solidarity with him and people of Kenya during these difficult moment and the fight against terrorism.  This horrendous attack is a heart-breaking reminder of the threat that terrorism poses to humanity.  Indeed none of us is completely safe from terrorism as it can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone. 

 
 

          We must increase vigilance, enhance regional and global cooperation and scale up the fight against terrorism.  The challenge ahead of us cannot be understated nor underestimated.  The success will depend on our unity of purpose and determination.  At this juncture I would like to commend His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya for his exemplary leadership in the wake of the attack and his unshaken resolve and firm commitment to support the peace building efforts in Somalia and elsewhere.  We are with Kenyan people at this time of distress and grief.

 

Conclusion

 

Mr. President;

 

In conclusion, I would like to stress once more that, we are passing through a time of great opportunity despite the many challenges. We must take advantage of the current scientific and technological innovations; information and communication technologies; and knowledge and lessons learned from the implementation of development programmes, including MDGs to build a world without poverty, hunger, diseases and deprivation.

 
 

 A world that protects its environment and nature.  It is possible to have a world without wars, conflicts and acts of terrorism.  A world where human rights are respected, rule of law observed, democracy reigns and civil society is regarded as an integral part of the development endeavour. With stronger multilateralism and the United Nations leading the way and, with strong political will on the part of national leaders and the people everything is possible.  We can make our world a better place for everyone to live.  

 

I thank you for your kind attention.

Harriet Harman MP's speech to Labour Party Annual Conference

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Harriet Harman MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, speaking to Labour Party Annual Conference 2013 in Brighton, said:
Conference, this week, we’ve packed in hours of debate; hundreds of fringe meetings; and most importantly delivered a One Nation fiscal stimulus for the bars of Brighton.

We began on Saturday at our fantastic Labour Women's Conference -
with 1,000 women. The biggest political gathering of women at any party conference, ever.

Proving, once again, Labour is the only party for women.

And what a contrast with the other parties.

David Cameron believes that women should be seen and not heard - and that's especially when it comes to his Cabinet.

And as for the UKIP conference - where to begin?

What can you say about the human car crash that is Godfrey Bloom? A man so unreconstructed, he makes Jeremy Clarkson look like a Fabian.

But Godfrey, all is not lost.

You've got some time on your hands now - so we've arranged a special emergency session for you.

At the "Harriet Harperson Institute of Political Correctness".

And Godfrey, the good news is that I, myself, will be there to give you some advanced 'one to one' training.

And we'll start with you whisking that Dyson round the back of my fridge.

And as for the Liberal Democrats – Lib Dem women are an endangered species.

Our Women's Conference was a women-only event. But Yvette and I decided we would do a bit of positive action and let one man in - our leader Ed Miliband and he got a fantastic reception.

The Shadow Chancellor wanted to come too - but we had to say to him "sorry we've already got a man on the platform - and he's called Ed."

Conference, in Ed Miliband we have a great leader.

Ed, we hoped you'd do a good speech yesterday, but you gave an amazing speech.

Ed has an unerring ability to understand the concerns that people have in their everyday lives.

It was Ed who warned that we are seeing, for the first time, a generation who won't do as well as the one that went before. That's something every parent worries about.

Then while Cameron and Clegg wallowed in complacency, Ed was the one who spoke up about the cost of living crisis.

And when Ed sees something's wrong, he will not shrink from the challenge.

He will never say:

it's just too difficult;

or the odds are stacked against us

or you'll have to put up with it - because the energy companies are just too powerful.

Ed fights for what's right. People often feel that in this day and age there are forces which are just too big and powerful for politics to make a difference.

But Ed has shown - even from opposition - the ability to make change.

He stood up against phone hacking.

He averted David Cameron's rush to war in Syria.

And he has shown that politics can make a difference.

But Ed is about a new kind of politics. And that shines through in everything he does. Like when he got egged.

You can really see the change.

When John Prescott got egged, he was massively angry and threw a punch.

When Ed Miliband got egged, his immediate thought was 'Oh God - I really hope this is free range' That's just the kind of guy he is.

And Ed is a leader who listens. To the people he meets and the party he leads.

And that's why yesterday on this stage, he moved Labour from being a party of protest which understands people’s concerns - to a party of policies which will address those concerns.

Better childcare - for mothers who tear their hair out trying to balance work and home.

Freezing fuel bills - how can you feel the warm glow of recovery if you can't turn your heating on.

And helping the next generation get their first home by putting housing at the heart of our mission and getting Britain building again.

So now - every single one of us - our shadow cabinet, MPs, MEPs, Peers, Councillors, our great parliamentary candidates, representatives from the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, trade unionists, our members and supporters.

Our whole Labour team in every part of this country, will get out on the doorstep and give people hope that their lives can be better than this. Britain can do better than this.

Our momentum comes not just from our policies - but from the people in our party - the whole Labour team. We are a party that has grown.

Just look at the membership.

Since the General Election, our membership is up by 17 per cent.

Since David Cameron became leader of the Tories their membership is down 40 per cent.

We now have more members than the Tories and the Lib Dems put together.

We are working hard and campaigning in communities all around the country.

But we all know that we could be doing more - particularly to reach out to and involve people at work. After all, Labour is the party of people at work.

The plan for party reform that Ed is proposing is not to weaken the relationship between Labour and trade union members - it is to make it a reality - especially at local level.

And I want to spell out what is obvious and what is true but needs saying.

We are fiercely proud of the link between our party and trade unionists. That link is at the heart of our history and will be an essential part of our future.

Because while the Tories are bankrolled by a handful of millionaires - we are a movement of millions of working people.

But these men and women are under attack.

And so when David Cameron attacks trade unionists and stokes up hatred against them we will stand up for them.

Because we know with the Tories - it's one rule for them and their privileged friends - and another for everyone else.

The rich will work harder if you cut their taxes.

Make the poor work harder by slashing their benefits.

Under - occupy a mansion - well you need protecting - so of course we can't have a Mansion Tax.

Under occupy a council home - tough - pay the bedroom tax or face eviction.

Well, not under a Labour Government. We will axe this cruel, useless, hated tax.

And speaking of cruel, useless and hated, let's spend a moment thinking about how good it will feel to kick out this miserable government.

When it came to austerity, they said "we're all in it together".

But they're not saying that about the recovery.

It cannot be a recovery that's only for the rich and not the rest.

And what about the Lib Dems?

They say they are in coalition. But look what they do in Westminster?

Week in week out - the Tories bring forward their nasty policies and the Lib Dems - they vote them through.

They call it coalition - we call it collusion.

And then Nick Clegg had the nerve to stand up at his conference and claim that he had been a brake on the Tories.

With the Lib Dems, it’s not just collusion – it’s delusion.

Here's a little reminder of just some of the things the Lib Dems voted for.

Putting up VAT,

slashing tax credits,

cutting police,

trebling tuition fees,

tax cuts for the richest

the bedroom tax and

let's not forget the top down reorganisation of our NHS - which no-one wanted and no-one voted for.

One thing they did announce last week at their conference was they were going to bring in free school meals.

But when Southwark Labour Council did exactly that last year - the Lib Dems bitterly opposed it.

So, Nick Clegg, come to Southwark for a free school meal - and I'll serve you a very large portion of humble pie.

But it's just not fair to say that Clegg has got no principles at all.

He has got one principle - one that means a lot to him.

That is, regardless of who's in government, Nick Clegg must be Deputy Prime Minister.

He wants to go on and on and on.

No wonder Vince Cable looks so miserable - you almost have to feel sorry for him.

So Conference – let’s have no talk about us being in coalition.

Labour is not fighting for a draw.

Labour is fighting to win.

Conference, we know we face a huge task.

It's barely three years since we were kicked out of government.

The Tories will fight a dirty, vicious campaign.

And Lynton Crosby will be the ring-master for the right wing press.

But remember - this is not a popular government.

They stand up for the wrong people.

They've failed on the economy.

They're ruining the NHS.

And people know it.

So yes - it is tough.

We will not lose our nerve.

Because the polls which are most important, are the ones where people actually vote.

And in local councils up and down this country, the Tories are losing seats, the Lib Dems are losing seats and it is Labour who is making gains.

Since Ed Miliband became leader, we have gained 1,950 new Labour Councillors.

Conference - those are the polls you won't read about in the newspapers but those are the polls that count.

So it is tough - but we can do it.

The General Election is there for the taking.

So, Conference, while we are in no doubt about the scale of our task, we leave here determined to do whatever it takes to kick out this miserable coalition and fight for a Labour government.

Ends

UGAIDI KENYA UMECHUKUA SURA MPYA-MAWAZIRI WANNE WAKALIA KUTI KAVU,Inadaiwa walipewa tahadhari kabla kuhusu kutokea tukio hilo

UGAIDI KENYA UMECHUKUA SURA MPYA-MAWAZIRI WANNE WAKALIA KUTI KAVU,Inadaiwa walipewa tahadhari kabla kuhusu kutokea tukio hilo

Septemba 29,2013-Jumapili.
Nairobi. Shambulizi la kigaidi lililoua watu  zaidi ya 67 nchini Kenya wiki iliyopita, limeanza kuchukua sura mpya baada ya kubainika kuwa mawaziri wanne na mkuu wa majeshi walipewa tahadhari kabla kuhusu kutokea kwa tukio hilo.

Taarifa hizo mpya zimekuja wakati ripoti nyingine za uchunguzi zikibainisha kuwa huenda magaidi walioshambulia jengo la Westgate walitoroka kupitia njia ya ardhini inayoanzia kwenye maegesho ya magari chini ya jengo hilo.

Kuhusu mawaziri

Tahadhari hiyo iliyoanza kutolewa Januari mwaka huu, iliwaonya viongozi hao ambao pia ni wanachama wa Baraza la Usalama la Taifa, kuwa Kundi la Al-Shabaab lilikuwa likipanga shambulizi jijini Nairobi.

Kwa mujibu wa ripoti ya kuzuia ugaidi iliyonukuliwa na Gazeti la The Saturday Nation, imewataja Waziri wa Fedha, Julius Rotich, Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani, Joseph ole Lenku, Waziri wa Ulinzi, Raychelle Omamo, Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje, Amina Mohammed na Mkuu wa Majeshi, Jenerali Julius Karangi kuwa walikuwa na taarifa za shambulizi hilo.

“Taarifa ilitolewa kwao ikiwatahadharisha kuongezeka kwa vitisho vya ugaidi na mipango ya kuanzishwa kwa mashambulizi mfululizo katika miji ya Nairobi na Mombasa kati ya Septemba 13 na 20, 2013,” inasema ripoti hiyo.

Ripoti hiyo inasema kuwa magaidi walikuwa wakipanga shambulizi linalofanana na lile lililotokea Mumbai, India ambapo walishambulia jengo na kuteka raia.

Pia, taarifa hiyo ilitolewa kwa Kamati ya Ushauri ya Usalama wa Taifa katikati ya Septemba, mwaka huu ambapo taarifa za kiintelijensia zilionyesha kuwa Al-Shabaab wameongeza harakati zao Kenya na kwamba walikuwa wanapanga shambulizi.

Kamati hiyo ambayo ndiyo ngazi ya juu ya usalama nchini Kenya, inajumuisha Rais, Naibu Rais, Waziri wa Ulinzi, Mambo ya Nje, Mambo ya Ndani, Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali, Mkuu wa Majeshi, Mkurugenzi wa Usalama wa Taifa na Mkuu wa Jeshi la Polisi.

Viongozi wote waliotajwa kupewa taarifa hawakupatikana, hata ujumbe mfupi wa maandishi waliotumiwa na gazeti hilo kwenye simu zao haukujibiwa.

Shambulizi la wiki iliyopita kwenye jengo la kibiashara la Westgate jijini Nairobi, linalomilikiwa wa raia wa Israel, liliua watu 67 na zaidi ya watu 170 kujeruhiwa.

Israel iliionya Serikali ya Kenya dhidi ya kuwapo kwa shambulizi la kigaidi kwenye majengo yanayomilikiwa na raia wa Israel wakati wa msimu wa sherehe za Kiyahudi kati ya Septemba 4 na 28.

“Ubalozi wa Israel, Nairobi, umetoa angalizo kwa Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje kuwa Iran na Hezbollah kutoka Lebanon wamekuwa wakikusanya taarifa za kiintelijensia za kutaka kuwalenga Waisrael na Wayahudi duniani kote ikiwamo Kenya,” inaonya ripoti iliyotolewa Septemba 13, 2013.

Pia, raia wa Marekani, Uingereza pamoja na Ofisi ya Umoja wa Mataifa ambayo haikufahamika iwapo ililengwa kushambuliwa. Ripoti hiyo inataja hata majina ya watu ambao wangehusika kwenye shambulio hilo.

Inaendelea kufichua kuwa, shambulizi la Westgate ambalo tayari limetekelezwa na jingine la Kanisa ya Holy Family Basilica, Nairobi yalikuwa yamepangwa tangu mwanzoni mwa mwaka huu na walioyaandaa wanatajwa na ripoti hiyo.

Inasema kuwa shambulizi la Westgate lilitekelezwa na Al-Shabaab chini ya uongozi wa Abdi Godane, huku ikidaiwa kuwa baadhi ya wanamgambo waliratibu shambulizi hilo kutokea eneo la Bullo Marer, Somalia.

Godane ndiye kiongozi mpya wa Al-Shabaab baada ya kuuawa kwa Omar Shafik Hammami na kumtimua Sheikh Aweys, ambaye aliamua kujisalimisha kwa Serikali ya Somalia.

Rais Uhuru Kenyatta ameahidi kuwaadhibu magaidi waliotekeleza shambulizi kwenye jengo la Westgate na kuapa kuwa jeshi halitarudi nyuma katika kuilinda mipaka ya Kenya.

Ripoti hiyo, pia imetoa tahadhari kuhusu kuibuka kwa vikundi vya kidini vyenye misimamo mikali Kaskazini Mashariki na mikoa ya pwani ya nchi ya Kenya.

“Kule Lamu, idadi isiyofahamika ya Al-Shabaab imejificha karibu na kambi ya wafugaji kati ya Katsakakairu na Nyangoro karibu na Witu,” inasema ripoti hiyo.

Mbali na kuyalenga makanisa Kaskazini mwa Kenya, magaidi hao wanadaiwa kulilenga jengo refu la Time Tower na baadhi ya sehemu maarufu za burudani kwenye mitaa ya Koinange na Kimathi jijini Nairobi.

“Mbali na kumbi za starehe, wameshaliangalia jengo la Times Tower na Nyayo. Katika mipango yao, waliangalia muda ambao watu wanakuwa wengi, usalama, kamera za CCTV na sehemu watakayosimama wakati wa kutekeleza shambulizi,” inasema ripoti na kuongeza kuwa:

“Pia, waligundua kuwa majengo yataingilika kirahisi kwa kutumia kadi bandia zinazotengenezwa River Road, Nairobi.”

Taarifa za kiuchunguzi zimeeleza kuwa baadhi ya wanamgambo wa kundi la Al-Shabaab waliotekeleza shambulizi kwenye jengo la Westgate, walitoroka kupitia mfereji mkubwa wa maji machafu chini ya jengo hilo.

Mfereji huo unaanzia sehemu inayotumika kuegesha magari kwenye jengo hilo na kutokea katikati ya Jiji la Nairobi.

Kwa mujibu wa gazeti la Sunday Mirror la Uingereza, sehemu ya kutokea kwenye mfereji huo imezungukwa na vichaka, vinavyoaminika kutumiwa na magaidi kujificha.

Baada ya kukimbia kutoka kwenye jengo walilolishambulia, walitoroka kupitia kwenye mfereji huo.

Akizungumza ndani ya handaki hilo, mwandishi wa Sunday Mirror, Russell Myers alisema: “mfereji unaanzia Westgate mahali ambapo shambulizi lilitokea Jumamosi wiki iliyopita.”

“Magaidi huenda waliweza kupitia hapa bila kuonekana na kukimbia kuelekea jumba la makumbusho la Nairobi, kisha wakabadilisha nguo na kuingia kwenye magari,” alisema Myers.

Mbali na taarifa hizo, pia imekwisharipotiwa kuwa baadhi ya magaidi waliteketea hadi majivu ndani ya jengo hilo, huku Serikali ya Kenya ikisema sita kati yao waliuawa katika mapambano na wengine kutoroka sambamba na mateka waliookolewa.
 

Israel warned Kenyan officials of impending attack before mall incident.
(Source)South China Post.

Kenya's government had been warned, including by Israel, of the high risk of an attack before Islamist gunmen's deadly assault on a Nairobi mall, security sources said yesterday.
Cabinet ministers and the army chief had received information warning of a plan to carry out a major attack, officials said, confirming an intelligence report leaked in Kenyan newspapers.
"Israel had warned of attacks on their business interests, but apart from just being tossed from one office to another, nothing was taken out of the intelligence reports," said one official.
On September 21, gunmen with automatic weapons and grenades burst into the upscale Westgate mall in Nairobi in an attack that lasted four days and left at least 67 dead.
The Daily Nation reported that the treasury, interior, foreign affairs and defence ministers, as well as the army chief, had been told of an elevated risk.
The Westgate mall, popular with expatriates and wealthy Kenyans, is partly owned by Israelis and had long been considered a prime potential target.
A top-ranking official said on Friday that the military caused the collapse of three floors of the mall. Several members of the Kenyan forces involved in battle said that a fire broke out on Monday after Kenyans fired at least two bazooka anti-tank rockets at the gunmen, who were holed up in a strong room.
"In the end, we had to use full force, we had to finish with these guys," said one member of the elite force.
The account of the roof collapse raises the possibility that the military may have caused the deaths of hostages in its rescue attempt.
Security officials and rescuers are adamant that the part of the mall still standing has been thoroughly searched, but one section of the complex collapsed during the siege after the fire erupted.
Kenya's interior minister has insisted that only an "insignificant" number of bodies remain to be discovered.

The US State Department issued a warning against travel to Kenya which evoked sharp reaction from Nairobi. A statement issued by the foreign ministry condemned the travel warning, saying it is "unnecessary and uncalled for".

 

Imeandaliwa na Margreth Itala kwa msaada wa mitandao mbalimbali.