How Kenya's elite security squad was not enough to make Israel's PM feel safe at Kasarani
Kenya went flat out to secure the stadium, dozens of police squads were deployed in advance, sniffer dogs were stationed and a police helicopter hovered above the stadium.
Among the more than 60,000 Kenyans who braved the hot sun to witnessed the swearing in ceremony were at least 13 African heads of states.
Those in attendance included Ethiopia's Prime Minister, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, Rwanda's Paul Kagame, Botswana's Ian Khama, Zambia's Edgar Lungu, South Sudan's Salva Kiir, Gabon's Ali Bongo, Namibia's Hage Geingob, Djibouti President Ismail Omar and Somalia's Mohamed Abdulahi.
Several high dignitaries among them First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and Second Lady, Rachael Ruto and representatives from the globe among them ambassadors, Cabinet Secretaries, Governors, Members of Parliament were also present to witness the the historic ceremony.
Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyau who had been expected to grace the occasion as the chief guest however choose to skip the event citing security concerns.
“Because of security concerns, Netanyahu is not expected to take part in the main inauguration ceremony to be held at the 60,000-seat Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi,” the Jerusalem post quoted.
He instead landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and went directly to Statehouse for a luncheon, a few chats with African heads of state, gave a speech and within a couple of hours he was out of the country.
"The Shin Bet Security Service has therefore not green-lighted for Netanyahu to appear at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium out of concern for his safety". Israel Time reported.
Some critics and observes had a hard time swallowing this and loudly wondered how safe and secure the stadium ought to be for Mr. Netanyahu to make an appearing.
Maybe the stadium had to be emptied and stripped bare before being turned upside down for Mr. Netanyahu to feel more comfortable and rest easy.
This is because Kenya went flat out to secure the stadium, dozens of police squads were deployed in advance to clear the stadium, sniffer dogs were stationed and a police helicopter hovered above the stadium during the entire swearing in ceremony.
Hundreds of National Youth Service ferried in buses camped at the stadium to control the crowd and offer any assistance.
Before the public were allowed inside the stadium, they had to pass through metal detectors, plain and clothed police officers were strategically stationed across the stadium to add additional security.
Local and international medical aid groups were at hand for any medical assitance.
Nairobi County fire marshals were not left behind either and deployed two fire engines just in case, it was literally all systems go.
Hawked eyed elite security details some clad in black suits complete with black glasses with video recording abilities surveyed the stadium like hungry vultures.
Not to mentioned dozens of bodyguards who accompanied their respective heads of state.
Kenyan army and elite presidential security detail walked around the stadium gun slang on their shoulder ready for anything.
Outside, once the stadium was full it was sealed off and over zealous police officers batons ready lobbed teargas and beat section of Kenyans who tried to access the stadium.
The entire Thika road was declared a red zone and security deployed there as well with traffic being diverted.
Kenya's effort however seemed too little and amateurish for Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyau.
Israel intelligence may have also have come up across the report which ranks the Kenyan Police as the third worse police force in the world.
Kenyan police service is also among the most corrupt police service in the world and reports of terrorists paying Kenyan border post police officers to enter the country and carry out terror attacks before quietly slipping back across the border have surfaced not once but severally.
While the inauguration was going on and Mr. Netanyau was still in the country,terrorists killed two policemen and injured a Kenya Defence Forces soldier in Lamu.
Israel has one of the most elite police and military squads in the world and stop at nothing to ensure the Jewish state is secure against any internal and external terror attack.
Whenever her head of state travel outside the country elite Mossad squad are sent beforehand to comb through everything and literary take over security systems of host countries until their Prime Minister is out of the country.
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