NAIROBI-Kenya’s struggle with terrorism will continue as long as neighbouring Somalia remains lawless, the prime minister has said.
Kenya and Tanzania are marking the 10th anniversary of the US embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga joined relatives and survivors at the site of the attack in Nairobi, which is now a memorial garden.
More than 220 people died in the first major al-Qaeda attack on US targets.
“A lawless Somalia threatens Kenya’s security,” Mr Odinga said during the commemoration ceremony.
“We need to build a new strategic engagement with popular voices in Somalia.”
He said the bombing ended country’s innocence about the brutality of terrorism.
The ceremonies come days after Kenyan police narrowly failed to arrest the suspected mastermind of the bombings, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed.
Mr Odinga said the failure to apprehend Mr Mohammed reminded Kenyans that “we have terrorists in our midst still planning awful deeds”.
“We must therefore never relax our vigilance against these extremists. Let me assure Kenyans that this government will do everything possible to prevent us from ever again being attacked,” Mr Odinga said.
Sunday’s botched operation to arrest Mr Mohammed has raised questions in Kenya about whether the government is doing enough to protect its citizens from the threat of terrorism.
The police have intensified their manhunt for the fugitive in the coastal city of Mombasa, and security along the country’s borders has been tightened.
The country’s sizeable Muslim community has complained that the “war on terror” is being used to victimise Muslims.
But the prime minister denied claims that the community was being used as a scapegoat, saying Islam was a religion of peace.
At least 17 Kenyan Muslims are being held in Ethiopia on suspicion of involvement in terrori
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