Tomorrow, August seventh, is the sixth anniversary of the US embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The two blasts killed more than 200 Kenyan, Tanzanian, and US citizens and left more than four thousand injured. Chris Murungaru is Kenya?s minister for internal security. He told English to Africa reporter and Daybreak Africa host James Butty from Nairobi that Kenyans will mark the anniversary with prayers in remembrance of those who were wounded or died in the bombing.
Mr. Murungaru says Kenyans will also use the occasion to rededicate themselves to the fight against terrorism because it is likely to remain with them for some time. Mr. Murungaru says Kenya has taken a number of important steps to deal with the threat. He says Kenya established a special counter-terrorism police unit early last year and set up a special security unit to provide protection for installations and individuals thought to be susceptible to terrorism, such as tourists, and western embassies.
Mr. Murungaru says Kenya has revamped security at its airports and seaports and along its borders. He says terrorists have targeted and may still be intending to target Kenya because it is a peaceful country in an unstable region and a regional hub and a cosmopolitan country with residents from all corners of the world. Furthermore, he says Kenya has many soft targets.
Mr. Murugaru says the question of compensation for victims of the 1988 bombing has yet to be fully resolved and he hopes it will be soon. But he credits the US government for being sympathetic to the plight of those wounded and offering medical assistance domestically and overseas.