NAIROBI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police have beefed up security at learning institutions in Nairobi after receiving intelligence that Al-Shabaab are planning to stage deadly attacks in Nairobi using their sympathizers in the country.
Nairobi County Criminal Investigators Officer Nicholas Kamwende called on police officers to remain vigilant and take appropriate action against the militants who on Friday raided a Kenyan military base in southern Somalia and killed nine personnel and injured 15 others.
In a circular to all police stations in Nairobi seen by Xinhua on Saturday, Kamwende said the insurgents are planning to carry out the attacks before the end of January, employing the Garissa University attack method of using women attackers.
The April 2, 2015 macabre killing of 148 people in Garissa University College by Al-Shabaab militants has reignited the search for long-term solution to terrorism by Kenyans.
Kamwende said the women attackers have arrived in Nairobi's Eastleigh residential estate which is inhabited by Kenyans of Somali origin in preparation for the attack while the operative in the Mandera border region is expected to deliver logistical support before the end of January.
The universities have reportedly informed students and staff of new security measures while cautioning people within their campuses to be extra vigilant.
Al-Shabaab was responsible for a deadly attack in 2013 on the upscale Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi where they killed 67 people and wounded over 200 others.
The group has vowed to punish Kenya for sending troops into Somalia alongside African Union peacekeepers to fight the group.
The Al-Qaeda terrorist group claimed to have killed 57 Kenyan soldiers when they overran a military camp in Kolbiyow near the Kenya-Somalia border on Friday morning.
The police said they are concerned that most public facilities have lowered their security alertness unlike early 2012 when Kenya started pursuing Al-Shabaab.
Kenya blames Al-Shabaab for the kidnappings of foreigners, and fears its tourist and business economy will be destroyed if it allows the insurgents to go on unchallenged.
The grenade and landmine explosions come as the biggest warning to Kenya so far that the insurgents are keen to orchestrate devastating terror attacks in the country.
The trend of the attacks particularly in northern Kenya and Mombasa which seemingly are well coordinated since few suspects have been arrested, has heightened worries among Kenyans.
The government has announced it was stepping up its naval patrols in the Indian Ocean, in order to prevent militants coming into the country via the open waters.
