Airports Authority dismisses terror threat reports

The Kenya Airports Authority has refuted claims that Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Mombasa’s Moi International Airport are facing imminent terror threats.

A leaked security memo by Airports Security Chief Eric Kiraithe says Al Shabaab was planning attacks on Kenyan airports in February and March and would mainly target domestic flights.

However, in a statement Monday, KAA’s Acting Managing Director Yatich Kangugo says the memo had been issued as a precautionary alert but the threats had not been verified.

Kagungo also says the authority has raised operational threat category in conjunction with other national security agencies.

The KAA acting boss has, however, urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities, noting that terrorism threat is real and alive globally.

Kenya has previously suffered devastating attacks by the Somalia-based Al Shabaab militants including the Westgate Mall siege which left 67 people died and the Garissa University College raid that left at least 148 people dead.