Inspector General of Police, National Police Service, Kenya David Kimaiyo has said that one Ishmael Omondi has been arrested for operating social media accounts purportedly used by Al Shabaab (@HSMPress_) to claim responsibility as heat turns on him and his security chefs to perform.
Announcing the move on Twitter, Kimaiyo said,”Also in police custody is a suspect who was operating social media accounts purportedly used by Al Shabaab to claim responsibility.”
Also in police custody is a suspect who was operating social media accounts purportedly used by Al Shabaab to claim responsibility.
— David Kimaiyo (@IGkimaiyo) June 18, 2014
Kimaiyo also dismissed Mpeketoni OCS Aden Ali, with immediate effect and added that Ali will be charged in court as the security forces get more suspects and leaders to be interrogated. The Inspector General also added that the govt has arrested several suspects in connection to Mpeketoni incident including the owner and driver of one the vehicles used by attackers and called upon Kenyans to be brother keepers and be united as a nation in peace, love and unity.
In series of tweets, Kimaiyo said that leaders and general public who will use inflammatory statements, or hate speech or negative propaganda will be arrested and charged. While any errant officers who will engage in any act of crime or go against the ethics and oath of office of the NPS will be equally dismissed.
Officers interdicted so far include County commanders APS Rashid, KPS Omollo, DAPC Bonaya while OCS Aden Ali had been transferred with immediate effect but later dismissed to await court charges. The officers were interdicted for laxity and they will be charged in court as per the president’s directive.
However, a cross-section of Kenyans say the IG move is laughbale and say the Al Shabaab threat is real and question the move to be politically inspired while some claim the account is a parody one as there are over 6 @HSM accounts all claiming to be associated to the terrorist group.
@CarolineMutoko@C_NyaKundiH@ItsMutai#Ishmael Omondi now joins the cast produced by Lenku and directed by Kimaiyo #MpeketoniAttack
— Peter Lee Okoth (@Okoth12Pl) June 18, 2014
But any tweet about ole lenku should not be deemed illegal, tribal or in any other negative light. It will just be for the sake of Kenya’s e
— Wangosh (@Wangosh254) June 18, 2014
Sometimes eer sorry, MOST of the time i don’t think Ole Lenku’s brain hears what his mouth is saying. #MpeketoniAttack #KenyaUnderSiege
— Patrick Lumumba (@PLO_Lumumba) June 16, 2014
Either Olivia Pope now works for the Kenyan Government or security forces are onto something here! Because, Ishmael Omondi.#MpeketoniAttack
— Mouz (@majormouz) June 18, 2014
During #WestgateAttack, HSMPress accounts used to post even in Kikuyu. Al-Shabaab exploited our desperation for jobs. #MpeketoniAttack
— Ole Some Clue (@RobertAlai) June 18, 2014
Last year Twitter deactivated the Twitter account of Somali militant group, Al-Shabaab after the militants posted a video of two Kenyans held hostage by the group. And as Kenyans deny the presence of Al-Shabaab, the mujahedeen forces claim resposnsibility in this audio and not tweet.