Kenya police puts $135K bounty on 7 alleged terrorists

By Andrew Wasike

Nairobi (AA) - Police on Wednesday placed a bounty of 14 million Kenya shillings ($135,000) on seven terror suspects believed to be behind the murders multiple victims, including police officers, in northern Kenya.

Police spokesman George Kinoti said the suspects are members of the Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabab militant group.

“The seven individuals have been identified as having being behind the recent terror attacks that led to the killing of innocent Kenyans and needless destruction of property,” Kinoti said in a statement.

He noted the suspects are believed to be behind the terror attack at the Bisharo Lodge in October that killed 12 victims.

The suspects are linked to other attacks, including one on the Jabane Hotel in January and the Arabia Police camp earlier this month.

Northern Kenya has witnessed numerous attacks from al-Shabab militants who cross into Kenya through the porous Kenya-Somalia border.

Al-Shabab has vowed to carry out more attacks in Kenya unless the East African country withdraws its troops from Somalia.

To date, an attack on Garissa University in 2015 that claimed the lives of more than 140 students is the group’s bloodiest on Kenyan soil.