David Kimaiyo: I was stopped from going after Westgate terrorists

Inspector General David Kimaiyo has admitted for the first time that he was going to storm Westgate Shopping Mall and help to fight al Shabaab terrorists in September. Kimaiyo has not spoken publicly about his personal feelings on the Westgate attack that left 70 people dead but it was widely reported after the September 21 raid that he was prepared to fight the terrorists. During an award ceremony for outstanding APs this year, Kimaiyo said he had his gun ready. “I want to pay special tribute to Sergeant Emojong for the good work he did in defending the country. Actually, I was among the police officers who were the first to reach the scene and when I was informed he (Emojong) was in, I wanted to join him as I had a rifle and bullet proof vest but was restrained by other officers accompanying me,” Kimaiyo said. Kimaiyo, Internal Security minister Joseph Ole Lenku and Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces Julius Karangi were in charge of the operations that lasted four days. It was the most daring attack by terrorists – who are said to have been four and armed with AK 47 rifles and hand grenades.
During the siege, one of Kimaiyo’s tweets was widely published and discussed by international media.  “Taken control of all the floors. We’re not here to feed the attackers with pastries but to finish and punish them,” he wrote on Twitter on September 24. He was giving an update on the progress of the rescue mission on the third day, which involved troops of the Kenya Defence Forces. 
-www.standardmedia