IG Joseph Boinett calls for vigilance after Paris strike

NAIROBI: Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett has asked Kenyans to be on high alert and report any suspicious people to the authorities.

 

The police chief took to his Twitter account to urge Kenyans to be vigilant in light of the Paris attacks. “In the wake of the latest Paris attacks and realising that the terror threat remains real in our country, while we in the Police have stepped up vigilance, we call on the public to exercise maximum level of alertness. Report any suspicious activity and/or persons to the police or any security agency for action,” read the three tweets, yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, 10,000 police officers will be deployed to boost security during Pope Francis’s visit to the country which is expected to draw an estimated one million people.

A team from the Vatican arrived in Nairobi on Monday to assist in security arrangements. The team inspected the special altar the Pope will use, sites and hotels where his team will spend. “Police will be deployed on major routes to control crowds as the Pope makes his movements here. We will not leave anything to chance at all,” said Director of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro.

A special team from the Presidential Escort Unit will be responsible for the security of the Pope.

The Pope’s visit involves high-level security arrangements and other logistics due to large crowds that gather to see him which increases the potential threat to his life.

Although Kenyan security officials exude confidence that the visit will go on smoothly, they are worried about a Holy Mass at the University of Nairobi. “The venue for the Mass is near the highway and you can imagine the chaos that will be there. But we are ready for anything,” said another official involved in the preparations.

Boinett asked Kenyans to come out in large numbers to welcome the Pope.