Police arrest 600 in security raids focused on illegal aliens

More than 600 people were arrested in Nairobi on Wednesday night, including a good number of Somalis and Ethiopians, in a police crackdown on illegal aliens, the possession of firearms and communications equipment, Nairobi Provincial Police Officer Peter Mbuvi told IRIN on Friday. "We are sorting them out now" he added, referring to the different nationalities of illegal aliens found during armed raids on crime-prone areas of Nairobi, including the suburbs of Eastleigh, Huruma, Kia Maiko, Soko Mjinga, Kawangware and Kangemi. Mbuvi told news agencies that police had seized two pistols, high-powered equipment "used to communicate with people outside Kenya" and which posed a threat to Kenyan security, as well as drugs and suspected stolen goods. Those arrested included Somalis and Ethiopians, and while some would be prosecuted for criminal offences, refugees would be repatriated to camps and illegal aliens deported, Mbuvi added. In a related development, President Daniel arap Moi defended strict new rules for issuing national identity cards, the 'Daily Nation' newspaper reported on Friday. Moi said the rules had been introduced after last year's 7 August bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi - after which it was discovered that suspects had illegally obtained Kenyan ID cards - and were aimed at "ensuring that criminal elements who are not Kenyan do not acquire Kenyan identification documents", the paper added.