Kenya warned over Al-Shabaab threats during Ramadan

Kenyan police on Friday warned citizens to be extra vigilant as Somalia-based Islamist group Al-Shabaab threatened to stage attacks in the country during the month of Ramadan.

Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinnet, said the areas along the Somali border were particularly at higher risk of attacks which could be carried out by Al-Shabaab militants of Kenyan origin.

"Some (militants) may have managed to sneak into other towns such as Mombasa, Malindi and Nairobi, hence public service vehicle operators, hotel and inn keepers as well as those who maintain public buildings are equally requested to exercise extra vigilance," Boinnet said.

The police chief said militants may masquerade as herders looking for pasture or refugees in their effort to infiltrate into the country.

"As such, we call upon all citizens, more so, communities who reside within these borders regions -- particularly in Boni Forest and its environs, Kiunga, Mandera, Wajir, Ijara and Garissa, to be on the lookout for such individuals and to promptly inform the security agencies," Boinnet said.

Boinnet said there had been sporadic attempts in the past few weeks to stage terror attacks in Mandera and Wajir counties but they had been repulsed.

He said terror attacks had previously been witnessed in the country during the month of Ramadhan and urged Kenyans to report any suspicious activities to security agencies.

The police said they were concerned that most public facilities had lowered their security alertness.

The Al-Qaida-allied Al-Shbaab militants have carried out several bloody attacks in Kenya in the past years. Endit