Tight security on first anniversary of the Westgate Mall terror attack

Police enhanced security in Nairobi yesterday as the country marked the first anniversary of the Westgate Mall terror attack.

Police increased their presence in public places such as churches, supermarkets and malls to pre-empt any attack.

Police chief David Kimaiyo on Saturday asked residents to be "extra vigilant" of their security in the coming week.

"We are all over but need public participation to ensure total safety," said Kimaiyo.

Both uniformed and plain-clothes police were stationed in churches, supermarkets and malls. Kimaiyo said the deployment was done in all major towns.

Al-Shabaab militants from Somalia claimed responsibility for the Westgate Mall terror attack saying it was retribution for the incursion of Kenyan troops into Somalia.

More recently, the Al-Qaida-linked terror group vowed to avenge the death of their leader killed in a US airstrike earlier this month.

Security agencies were caught off guard on September 21, 2013, when terrorists struck the Westgate Mall killing at least 67 people and leaving hundreds with serious injuries.

There was poor co-ordination at the site because security officers and soldiers did not know the identity and strength of the attackers.

Officials later named two of the attackers as 23-year-old Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow, who had spent time in Norway, and Mohammed Abdinur Said — both Somalis.

CCTV footage from the mall showed they were armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades.

Four suspects — Hussein Hassan Mustafa, Mohammed Ahmed Abdi, Liban Abdullah Omar and Adan Mohammed Abdikadir — were later arrested for providing support to the gunmen and their trial is ongoing.

Ugandan police last week arrested a suspected Al-Shabaab cell leader, who is believed to have been planning a new Westgate-style attack.

A 30-year-old Muslim convert Samantha Lewthwaite, a British woman dubbed the "White Widow", said to have been at the mall is also being sought.

Interpol has also issued a warrant of arrest for Lewthwaite.