Kenyan journalist held over Kampala bombs

TWO more Kenyans have been arrested in connection with the July11 twin bomb blasts in Kampala that left 76 people dead and scores injured.

By Vision reporters

TWO more Kenyans have been arrested in connection with the July11 twin bomb blasts in Kampala that left 76 people dead and scores injured.

One of the suspects identified as Habib Sulaiman Njoroge was arrested yesterday at the Kenya-Uganda border post of Malaba in eastern Uganda while trying to sneak into the country.

The other suspect, Habib Suleiman, is a Kenyan journalist working for an FM station in the Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa.

He was arrested over the weekend by the anti-terrorism police unit of Kenya. Njoroge, who is believed to be one of the chief architects bomb blasts, was transferred to Kampala under tight security.

He remains detained at an undisclosed location within Kampala.

“We got information that he was the one who aided the transfer of bombs to Uganda. He has links with al Shabaab,” a security source said.

The source added that Njoroge trained with the al Shabaab in Somalia in 2006 and 2008.Njoroge reportedly organised the transportation of the bombs and other items to Uganda using a pick-up truck.

The arrest of Njoroge and Suleiman now brings to 14 the total number of Kenyans arrested in connection to the bomb blasts.

Eleven of these were handed over to Uganda a couple of weeks after the attacks.The total number of suspects who have appeared in court now is 34. They include Ugandans, Kenyans, Somalis and one Pakistani.

The suspects are accused of causing the death of 60 people who died at Kyadondo Rugby Club and 15 others at Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala.According to Kenyan sources, Habib, the Kenyan journalist arrested over the weekend, was held on suspicion of having facilitated and financed some of the July 11 bomb suspects.

He reportedly moved to Mombasa from Nairobi where he settled with his wife and child. He had been working at the station in the production department as a presenter, producer and voice artiste, with his work entailing voicing advertisements.

Coast Police chief Leo Nyongesa confirmed that the suspect who is in his late 20s was flown to Nairobi, where more investigations will be conducted.

The source also said at the station, he used to handle a special Islamic programme with Sheikhs, especially during this Ramadan period.