The statement apparently authored by the National Police Service and dated Wednesday, January 8, claimed that Kenya was under threat from militia groups due to its close association with the United States.
Speaking to kenyagist.com, Owino, however, dismissed the notice as fake explaining that the police service had not released such a notice.
The spokesperson further pointed out that the statement bore glaring mistakes as it contained contacts of officers that have been transferred from various stations.
The notice seen by kenyagist.com had detailed that the risk of terror threats to Kenya had heightened due to the wrangles between the US and Iran after the killing of the Iranian General Qasem Soleimani who was the second most powerful leader in the Middle Eastern country.
“In the wake of a heightened terror threat in the country, coupled with escalating hostilities between the United States of America and Iran, American operated establishments have become targets for terror attacks.
“Kenya could be targeted due to its alliances with the US and could be targeted by sympathisers seeking retaliatory and opportunistic attacks on soft targets,” read the false statement in part.
Some of the places purportedly targeted ‘due to their vulberability’ as listed in the statement included the American Embassy, the Kamiti Maximum Prison which holds two Iranian nationals, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets in Kenya, the Coca Cola Kenya headquarters among others.
This came just days after Al Shabaab, on Sunday, January 5, attacked Camp Simba, Manda Bay, which is a US marines training base in Lamu.
Following the attack, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) released a statement confirming that four militants had been killed.
”This morning at around 5:30 a.m. an attempt was made to breach security at Manda Air Strip. The attempted breach was successfully repulsed. Four terrorist bodies have so far been found,” read the KDF statement.
