Top government officials led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger and members of the public Thursday marked the 10th Anniversary of the August 7th 1998 explosion at the Bomb Blast Memorial in Nairobi.
A solemn mood engulfed the memorial as speakers paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the attack.
Odinga urged Kenyans not to relent on their fight against extremists in the country.
He assured Kenyans that the government would do everything possible to prevent attacks similar to the August 7th 1998 bomb blast at the former US Embassy.
The PM also noted the government would continue cooperating with other global anti-terror efforts to pursue and apprehend violent extremists on Kenyan soil.
Despite the government's vigilance and pursuit of terrorists, the Prime Minister categorically stated that no particular community would be victimized.
He dispelled allegations that the terrorists were acting in the name of Islam, or that the government's anti-terror efforts were directed at Muslims.
Raila said the whole world knew that Islam was a religion of peace, adding that its very name was derived from peace.
Over 200 people perished in the devastating blast and more than 5000 others sustained serious injuries including burns, loss of sight and loss of hearing ability.
Ten years since the attack, terror suspect Abdullah Mohammed Fazul, who is believed to have executed the attack on behalf of Al-Qaeda, is still at large.
Fazul is also accused of conducting another attack at Paradise Hotel in Kikambala, Kilifi District in November 2002, and organizing a failed attempt to blow up an Israeli jetliner.
Last Friday, Fazul narrowly evaded arrest after police raided a house in which he was said to have been staying in Malindi.
The police operation has now intensified, with the crackdown extended to Lamu.
Police are also keeping vigil at various estates and seafronts, as well as Taveta, Kiunga and Lungalunga border points.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, Malindi Branch Chairman Salim Omar Dima is calling for the arrest and prosecution of immigration officials involved in the issuance of passports to the most wanted man in the country, Mohammed Fazul. Sheikh Dima says it is unfair for the anti-terrorism police to arrest those perceived to have hosted the international terrorist while those who issued him with passports are free.
He says the involved officers should be arrested and investigated over the circumstances that led to their granting two passports to a suspected terrorist.
Sheikh Dima wants the government to investigate immigration officers at border points, noting that they may have allowed Fazul to gain entry into the country.
