BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
A possible “terror attack” warning purportedly issued by Nairobi Regional Criminal investigations boss Bernard Nyakwaka is fake.
Director of criminal investigations George Kinoti has said.
“Good morning. It is a fake document circulating. No such classified document can be issued without my personal authority or signature.” Kinoti told Hot News on Sunday Morning.
The advisory purportedly signed by Nairobi criminal investigations boss Bernard Nyakwaka on Wednesday has caused panic after the warning letter went viral over the weekend.
The letter dated January 8,2020, has highlighted key United States investments in the country all based in Nairobi as possible terror attacks targets from Iranian sympathizers.
They include the Coca Cola headquarters in Nairobi’s Upper Hill and Likoni Road based British American Tobacco headquarters.
Others include American and Kenyan governments installations among them the US Embassy in Gigiri and United States Agency for International Development.
Last week, on January 3, US president Donald Trump ordered the killing of Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian powerful military general.
This has led to retaliatory attacks on perceived American allies.
The letter also has earmarked possible malls and hotels that are under threat.
They include Garden City, Thika Road and West Gate malls.
Hotels include Park Inn Westlands, Villa Rosa Kempinski, Dusit2 among others.
“Kenya could be targeted due to its alliances with the US.” The letter reads in part.
Efforts to get comments from Nyakwaka regarding the authenticity of the security alert letter addressed to Nairobi divisional crime commanders were futile.
He said he was in church and referred Hot News to Police Spokesman Charles Owino.
Contacted Owino dismissed the alert as a misrepresentation of facts.
“The alert is fake news. Ignore it as soon as possible”. Owino told Hot News in a text message.
A senior police officer privy to police communication procedures told Hot News under condition of anonymity that the letter is genuine.
However, he said Nyakwaka may have overstepped his mandate and may have been reprimanded by his bosses for issuing such a security alert that touches on international crime without involving his bosses.
“This letter looks genuine. This kind of an alert should have been issued by the Inspector General of Police or the Director of Criminal Investigations through the Anti-Terror Police Unit.” Said a senior police officer.