Tanzania has assured Kenya of support following the ambush at DusitD2 Hotel in Riversides, Nairobi, during which Al-Shabaab gunmen killed 21 people and injured at least 78.
The assurance came at a meeting on Thursday evening between Kenyan National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and Tanzania’s Job Ndugai at the Parliament in Dar es Salaam on Thursday evening.
“We share with you the pain caused by this heinous act, express our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wish those who were injured quick recovery,” Speaker Ndugai was quoted as saying in a statement from Mr Muturi’s office.
“We stand in solidarity with you during this moment.”
On Wednesday, Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli pledged his support in a message to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Six people ambushed the business complex on Tuesday, one blowing himself up outside Secret Garden Restaurant and the five getting killed by security agents later in the day.
Speaker Muturi informed his Tanzanian counterpart that security forces responded in an exemplary fashion, saving at least 700 people.
“I was particularly impressed by Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti’s response. He arrived at the scene in a record eight minutes and led the rescue operations from the front,” he said.
Mr Muturi is in Dar es Salam attending for a series of meetings on the development of the 2019 work plan of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa.
He is the current chairman of the executive committee of the association whose members are drawn from member Parliaments across the continent.