Chief of Defence Forces Julius Karangi speaks during a special press briefing between members of the media and
Kenya security forces at the Department of Defence headquarters October 29, 2013. Photo|Emma Nzioka
By PETER LEFTIE
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has admitted that soldiers looted from Westgate Mall during the terrorist attack last month.
Two soldiers have been sacked and jailed in connection with the looting from shops at the mall.
Another soldier is facing court martial after being found in possession of a mobile phone suspected to have been looted at the mall, KDF chief Julius Karangi told journalists during a rare press conference attended by the country’s security chiefs at the Department of Defence (DoD) headquarters Tuesday.
Read: Theft case against KDF soldier withdrawn
Present during the Press conference included Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo, Principal Secretary Dr Monica Juma, Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, Director of Criminal intelligence Ndegwa Muhoro, Deputy KDF chief Lt. Gen. Samson Mwathethe, Army Commander Lt. Gen Joseph Kasaon, his Kenya Air Force counterpart Major Gen Joff Otieno and KDF spokesman Col. Cyrus Oguna.
The security chiefs sought to clear the air over several unanswered questions regarding the September 21 terrorist attack including widespread allegations of looting by KDF soldiers, poor coordination and outright hostilities between the various security agencies involved in the rescue operation and reports that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) had issued prior warning that the mall would be attacked.
VIDEO CLIPS
They came fully equipped with video clips to counter allegations of widespread looting and even the names of soldiers who have been sacked and jailed in connection with the allegations.
The names of the two soldiers who have been sacked and jailed were given as Victor Otieno, Victor Ashihundu while the one still being investigated was named as Isaiah Wanjala. They were allegedly found in possession of mobile phones, cameras and battery chargers.
Besides being summarily sacked and jailed, the affected officers will lose all their terminal benefits and will also be blacklisted, meaning they cannot secure any employment in the disciplined forces or security firms, sources told Nation.
Gen Karangi also revealed that two other Administration Police officers and four civilians were also arrested at the mall and are undergoing police investigations in connection with looting. One of the AP officers was allegedly found trying to steal a motor vehicle at the mall.
“We also went a step further and instituted our own internal inquiry. The inquiry has so far found three of our officers with stolen goods,” he stated. “Two of them have been sacked and jailed while we are still investigating one case in Nakuru through our own internal disciplinary system,” he noted.
The two AP officers and four civilians were arrested and handed over to the Police because they could not be tried using the court martial system, he noted.
Mr Kimaiyo on his part maintained that the NIS did not issue any warning specifically touching on an impending attack at the mall, saying all they was “general information” of possible attacks on key installations in the country.
Col Oguna accused media outlets and some owners of shops at the mall of manipulating information to portray the security forces involved in the operation as looters.
The security chiefs however admitted that eight soldiers caught on camera carrying plastic bags containing water bottles had actually picked them from a supermarket at the mall.
“They actually had permission from the officer in charge of the operation who may have appreciated that they were dehydrated after being in the place for 72 hours with no water, choking, it could have been an error of judgment,” said Col Oguna.
'CREATION OF THE MEDIA'
Gen Karangi and Mr Kimaiyo downplayed reports that KDF soldiers and their counterparts from the Recce Unit could have exchanged friendly fire occasioning fatalities on both sides terming them a creation of the media.
They also sought to downplay a decision to replace the Recce Unit with the KDF during the early stages of the operation saying it was informed by the need for specialised skills.
“You may also want to know that even the KDF soldiers who took part in the initial operation were later replaced by others depending on the specialities and skills required. This specialities and skills are not domiciled in any one institution,” Gen Karangi maintained.
He also disputed reports that some terrorists could have escaped through a tunnel running from the mall to a nearby stream.
Col Oguna maintained that contrary to reports that KDF soldiers had vandalised banks and shops within the mall stealing money, they had actually helped several banks secure millions of shillings.
The banks were Barclays (Sh68 million), Diamond Trust Bank (Sh65 million), Kenya Commercial Bank (Sh31 million) and CFC Stanbic (Sh32 million).
The Millionaires Casino had Sh50million, which was also secured.
Mr Muhoro said five suspects were in police custody in connection with the attack. They had been expected in court on Monday but this changed after detectives bumped into more incriminating information.
One of the suspected terrorists, a Norwegian of Somali descent, had made phone calls to Norway in the course of the attack, he added.
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