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Kenya al-Shabab massacre: Kenyatta replaces security chiefs Kenya al-Shabab massacre: Kenyatta replaces security chiefs
(35 minutes later)
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has replaced his interior minister and police chief following a massacre by Islamist group al-Shabab.Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has replaced his interior minister and police chief following a massacre by Islamist group al-Shabab.
The president asked Kenyans to unite, and said: "We will not flinch in war against terrorists."The president asked Kenyans to unite, and said: "We will not flinch in war against terrorists."
Kenya's police chief David Kimayo stood down, while Interior Minister Ole Lenku was dismissed. Kenya's police chief David Kimayo stood down, while Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku was dismissed.
Al-Shabab earlier killed 36 quarry workers in the Mandera region, near the Somali border. Earlier, al-Shabab killed 36 quarry workers in the Mandera region near the Somali border.
The group attacked the workers around midnight on Monday as they slept in tents at the quarry in Kormey, 15km (nine miles) from the north-eastern town of Mandera. The group attacked the workers around midnight on Monday while they were asleep in tents at the quarry in Kormey, 15km (9 miles) from the north-eastern town of Mandera.
The non-Muslim workers were shot dead after being separated from the Muslims. Non-Muslim workers were shot dead after being separated from the Muslims.
'Choose a side'
"This is a war against Kenya and Kenyans," Mr Kenyatta said on national TV on Monday. "It is a war that every one of us must fight.""This is a war against Kenya and Kenyans," Mr Kenyatta said on national TV on Monday. "It is a war that every one of us must fight."
A driver who visited the scene of the attack, Ali Sheikh Yusuf, told the BBC most of the victims appeared to have been lined up, and shot in the head, at close range. "The time has come for each and every one of us to decide and choose - are you on the side of an open, free, democratic Kenya... or do you stand with repressive, intolerant and extremists?"
He said Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku had been fired, and he nominated an opposition politician and former army general, Joseph Nkaissery, as his replacement.
The president also announced that he had accepted Mr Kimaiyo's wish to retire.
Correspondents say both Mr Kimaiyo and Mr Lenku have been under pressure to resign amid growing concern over security in Kenya following a spate of attacks.
Analysis: Robert Kiptoo, BBC Africa, Nairobi
Most Kenyans will be pleased by the departure of police chief David Kimaiyo and Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku - two men widely blamed for the failure to get to grips with the insurgency.
President Kenyatta has shown his determination to declare war on al-Shabab by nominating a former army general as the new interior minister.
If Kenya's parliament approves his nomination, Joseph Nkaissery will become the first opposition MP handed such a key ministerial post since Kenya adopted a new constitution in 2010.
Like his predecessor, Mr Nkaissery comes from the Maasai community, suggesting the president took into account the need to ensure the ethnic group remains represented in government.
At a time when al-Shabab is threatening Kenya's security, Mr Kenyatta cannot afford to cause ethnic tension by alienating any group.
A driver who visited the scene of Monday's attack, Ali Sheikh Yusuf, told the BBC most of the victims appeared to have been lined up and shot in the head at close range.
He said four were beheaded inside their tents, while three appeared to have escaped to Mandera town.He said four were beheaded inside their tents, while three appeared to have escaped to Mandera town.
Al-Shabab said it carried out the attack, blaming the involvement of Kenyan forces in Somalia "and their ongoing atrocities therein, such as the recent air strikes on Muslims". The group put the number of killed at 40, higher than official accounts. Al-Shabab said it carried out the attack, blaming the involvement of Kenyan forces in Somalia "and their ongoing atrocities therein, such as the recent air strikes on Muslims".
The group put the number of those killed at 40, higher than official accounts.
Kenya's Red Cross said that security personnel and one of its own teams were at the scene soon after the attack.Kenya's Red Cross said that security personnel and one of its own teams were at the scene soon after the attack.
Al-Shabab has stepped up its campaign in Kenya since 2011, when Kenya sent troops across the border to help battle the militants. Al-Shabab has stepped up its campaign in Kenya since 2011, when Kenya sent troops across the Somali border to help battle the militants.
Only last week, al-Shabab killed 28 people in an attack on a bus targeting non-Muslims in the same area. Only last week al-Shabab killed 28 people in Mandera in an attack on a bus targeting non-Muslims.
In one of the worst attacks on Kenyan soil, 67 people were killed last year when four gunmen took over the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.In one of the worst attacks on Kenyan soil, 67 people were killed last year when four gunmen took over the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.
In recent months, dozens of people have been killed in a series of shooting attacks in coastal districts. Dozens of people have been killed in a series of shooting attacks in coastal districts in recent months.
Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku and police chief David Kimaiyo had both come under pressure from the opposition and some in the governing party to resign as a result of the security situation. Hundreds of people sought refuge at a military airstrip in Mandera last week, fearing a fresh assault by al-Shabab.
Hundreds of people sought refuge at a military airstrip in the Mandera region last week, fearing a fresh assault by al-Shabab.