Two Explosions Rock Nairobi

An explosion went off near a crowded bus stop Monday evening as people sought rides home, killing at least one person and wounding eight. The evening blast was the second of the day in Kenya's capital, twin assaults that came two days after the U.S. warned of possible terror attacks.

The U.S. warning had implied that the militant Somali group al-Shabab would carry out reprisal attacks in response to Kenyan troops' invasion of Somalia in mid-October. The Al Qaeda-linked group promised to unleash terror attacks in Nairobi in retaliation.

However, Monday's attacks appeared to target Kenyans, striking at a downtrodden bar and a bus stop in a working-class neighborhood.

Nairobi's provincial commissioner, Njoroge Ndirangu, said experts were still confirming what kind of device went off in the second blast, and that it was too early to tell if al-Shabab was involved.

The second blast went off in a blue-collar area of the city just outside the central business district. Throngs of people crowd the sidewalk and try to jam their way onto raucous minibuses known as matatus, the primary mode of transportation for Kenya's working class.

Peter Ndungu Kiarie, 35, said he was in his vehicle when he heard the second explosion and saw people rushing toward him. Many people were wounded in the legs, he said, suggesting the explosive device was lying on the ground.

"I assisted some until an ambulance came," he said.

The Kenyan Red Cross reported that one person was killed and eight others were taken to the hospital following the evening attack. A dozen people were wounded, three seriously, in the first blast at a blue-collar bar at around 1:15 a.m.

Police cordoned off the area but did not provide any immediate comment. Police have tightened security around hotels, bridges and fuel depots.

Al-Shabab is loosely affiliated with Al Qaeda and counts militant veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars among its ranks. The militant group carried out twin attacks in Kampala, Uganda in July 2010 that killed 76 people.

Given Al Qaeda's preference for large-scale attacks, even the twin blasts in Nairobi do not bear the hallmarks of a major, well-planned terror assault. The U.S. warning on Saturday also said likely targets include shopping malls and night clubs where foreigners congregate.

The weapon used in the early Monday attack was a Russian-made F1 grenade, police said. A similar type of grenade was used in a downtown Nairobi attack in December 2010 at a bus station. That attack killed one person.

Three grenades exploded at a political rally in downtown Nairobi in June 2010, killing six people. In December that year, two traffic police died when they were shot and a third was seriously injured by a grenade.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/24/france-to-help-supply-kenyan-troops-fighting-al-qaeda-linked-militants-in/?test=latestnews#ixzz1bjrqeURh

Somali militants move fighters to border with Kenya

 Islamic militants have moved fighters to the Somali border town of Afmado in an effort to combat Kenyan forces who have entered Somalia, the militant group Al-Shabaab said Tuesday.
The group said it viewed the Kenyan forces crossing of the joint border as "an affront to Somalia's territorial sovereignty."
This move of fighters, which started Monday, comes after the militant group had threatened to "come into Kenya" if Kenyan forces did not leave Somalia.


"Kenyan troops have entered 100 kilometers into Somalia, and their planes are bombarding and killing residents," Sheikh Ali Mahmud Ragi, spokesman for Al-Shabaab, said in an online message posted on a jihadist website this week. "We shall come into Kenya if you do not go back."
In response, the Kenyan and Somali governments issued a joint communique declaring Al-Shabaab "a common enemy to both countries." They pledged to work together to stabilize Somalia and cooperate in security and military operations.


Kenyan forces crossed into Somalia to pursue Al-Shabaab fighters after the recent abductions of tourists and aid workers in Kenya heightened tensions in East Africa. Kenya invoked the U.N. charter allowing military action in self-defense against its largely lawless neighbor.
The abductions are part of a "recent spate of blatant attacks" that are part of "a changed strategy by Al-Shabaab calculated to terrorize civilians," the communique said.


"If you are attacked by an enemy, you have to pursue that enemy through hot pursuit and to try (to) hit wherever that enemy is," said Kenyan Defense Minister Yusuf Haji in a news conference that aired Sunday on CNN affiliate NTV.
Al-Shabaab, which is linked to al Qaeda, has been fighting to impose its interpretation of Islamic law, or sharia, on Somalia. The group issued a statement Tuesday, however, denying responsibility for the abductions.


"These are mere suppositions unfounded in any solid evidence," the statement said. "Kenyan authorities have been seeking justification for an aggressive incursion on to Somali territory."
On September 11, armed bandits broke into a beachfront cottage where Britons Judith and David Tebbutt, both in their 50s, were staying. David Tebbutt was shot dead while trying to resist the attack. His wife was grabbed and spirited away on a speedboat, and is believed to have been taken into Somalia.
On October 1, pirates made another cross-border raid, this time snatching a French woman in her 60s from a holiday home on Manda Island where she lived part of the year.
Earlier this month, gunmen abducted two Spanish workers from the medical charity Doctors Without Borders from the Dadaab refugee complex, about 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) from the Somali border.


Kenya announced its new tactics days after African Union forces claimed victory against Al-Shabaab in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. The military said last week it had taken the remaining Al-Shabaab strongholds in the far northeast of the city.
"The challenge is now to protect civilians from the sort of terror attack we saw last week, as they attempt to rebuild their lives," said Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, spokesman for the African Union Mission in Somalia. He was referring to a suicide truck bombing in Mogadishu this month that left dozens dead. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility. Other Al-Shabaab attacks that week led to the deaths of at least 10 civilians.


Federal and African Union forces have battled Al-Shabaab in the impoverished and chaotic nation for years. Many analysts believe the military push has severely affected Al-Shabaab, along with targeted strikes against organization members and the weakening of al Qaeda.
Al-Shabaab said in August it was withdrawing from Mogadishu, and Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, backed by African Union peacekeepers, now controls most districts of the capital, the U.N. office has said.
However, the group still poses a threat, Ankunda has said.

Kenya had no answer to Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga announced his return to full fitness by storming his way to an unprecedented second World Cup hat-trick with an exhibition of yorker-on-demand bowling that proved too much for Kenya's tail at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The visitors imploded to 142 all out despite dogged half-centuries from the Obuya brothers, who enjoyed plenty of fortune in a determined 94-run stand that kept the varied threats of Sri Lanka's bowling at bay for nearly 30 overs. Sri Lanka's batsmen barely had to break a sweat in the chase, finishing it off in 18 overs.



The Obuyas weren't exactly convincing - testing every edge of their bat, surviving close lbw calls, regularly air-driving outside off and rarely reading the spinner's variations - but hung on obdurately to take Kenya into triple-digits. A solid platform was in place when they had hauled Kenya to 102 for 2, but Malinga's burst demolished the tail as the final eight wickets were blasted out for 40 runs. None of the other Kenyan batsmen made it past single-figures.

The Kenyan collapse was rapid: it took only 22 deliveries for them to go from 127 for 4 to being bowled out. Muttiah Muralitharan started it off by getting the set batsman David Obuya to slog-sweep to midwicket.

Then it was Malinga time. Jimmy Kamande barely found his bearings after being struck by a toe-crusher, and decided to go for a single when the ball was only a couple of metres away from him. Chamara Silva pounced from midwicket and did a passable imitation of Jonty Rhodes from 1992 to crash into the stumps and dismiss Kamande.

Tanmay Mishra was next, becoming the first victim of Malinga's hat-trick after missing a full delivery on leg stump to fall for a 13-ball duck. It was the final ball of the over, and Malinga gave Peter Ongondo the warmest welcome possible to the tournament in the first ball of his next - a yorker that uprooted middle. The staggered dismissals meant many in the crowd weren't aware that Malinga was on a hat-trick. He steamed in and middle stump was dismantled again next ball, the clueless batsman this time was Shem Ngoche.

Attention then shifted to whether Malinga could repeat his outrageous four-in-four from the 2007 World Cup, but he sprayed a wild delivery for five leg-side wides. Elijah Otieno defended the next ball, but that was followed by another unstoppable yorker from Malinga that thud into leg stump to end Kenya's innings. Malinga had taken four in five legal deliveries to finish with 6 for 38.

A tiresomely familiar tale seemed set to play out earlier in the afternoon when Kenya slid to 8 for 2 in the third over. Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga removed the openers cheaply with their favourite weapons - Kulasekara getting Maurice Ouma with an inducker, and Malinga dislodging Seren Waters with an inswinging yorker that left the batsman on his knees.

The Obuyas ensured there wasn't a repeat of Kenya's house-of-cards performance against New Zealand. Kulasekara gave away only nine runs in a constricting six-over opening spell, but Kenya were more at ease against Angelo Mathews, who was taken for a couple of boundaries.

Sri Lanka brought on the spin of Ajantha Mendis in the 14th over to break the frustrating stand, but though the batsmen weren't sure which way the ball would turn, they survived his bag of tricks with some dour defence. Kumar Sangakkara then turned to Muttiah Muralitharan to get the wickets, but though there were leading edges and outside edges, Murali couldn't break through, with the batsmen negotiating him with a series of sweeps.

It was painfully slow progress from the Obuyas, and after more than two hours of defiance, it was that most deadly of weapons that separated them - a Malinga yorker. Some more of those left Sri Lanka chasing a tiny target in front of a raucous Colombo crowd.

The fans had even more to cheer when Sri Lanka batted, as Tillkaratne Dilshan provided a typically fast start with an array of punches through cover. He picked up a couple of boundaries in three successive overs to power Sri Lanka to 51 in the sixth over. Upul Tharanga, who started sedately, then joined the party with three fours in the next over. Dilshan fell short of a half-century, but Tharanga went on to make 67 with a string of lofted boundaries in the batting Powerplay to hasten the finish, and push Sri Lanka to the top of the table on net run-rate.

Sri Lanka vs Kenya Live Streaming Highlights – Cricket World Cup 2011

Sri Lanka would look to bounce back after their morale-sapping loss to Pakistan and avenge their 2003 edition defeat at the hands of Kenya when they take on the African associate nation in their ICC Cricket World Cup Group A match on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka, tipped as one of the title contenders, lost to Pakistan by 11 runs on Saturday and they would look to lift their morale with a big win against Kenya at the R Premadasa Stadium.

They have also got the boost ahead of Tuesday's match with fast bowler Lasith Malinga available for selection after sitting out of Sri Lanka's last two matches due to a sore back.

Sri Lanka can ill-afford to take their opponents lightly, though Kenya had suffered heavy defeats at the hands of New Zealand and Pakistan in their last two matches and facing internal division with differences between their coach Eldine Baptiste and senior players.

Against the Kiwis, Kenya were bowled out for 69 runs, their lowest total in ODI cricket, and then Pakistan thrashed them by 205 runs at Hambantota.

However, the last time Sri Lanka and Kenya met in a World Cup encounter was in 2003 and the Africans had stunned the 1996 champions on that occasion with an upset win in Nairobi.

Understandably, Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss warned his players not to be complacent.

"The fact that we did not win our last game will stop any complacency. Our guys are consciously aware of playing good cricket and we certainly will not take them lightly," Bayliss said.

He said Malinga was able to bowl full steam at the nets on Monday and he would be available for selection.

"Lasith bent over to pick up a cricket ball about two weeks ago and strained his back a little. The physio said that the first two weeks were the most important after his injury as the most likelihood of him re-injuring was that period. He bowled in the last two practice sessions. He has bowled with a full run-up today and batted and fielded.

We have a selection meeting in the evening and will decide what to do then," Baylisss said.

Kenya, on the other hand, are facing trouble ahead of their all-important match with reports of differences between players and coach emerging.

Cricket Kenya chief Samir Inamdar on Sunday blamed differences between the players and West Indian coach Eldine Baptiste for their lacklustre performances so far.

Kenyan captain Jimmy Kamande, however, dismissed suggestions that there was disunity within the squad and promised a better performance on Tuesday.

"I also read those reports. I have not spoken to the chairman, but I can tell you that my team is very solid. When a team loses people try to find excuses. The thing is we have not performed and we want to play well," Kamande told reporters at the pre-match press conference.

"Obviously Sri Lanka are a solid side. But we have nothing to lose. They are the ones who are under pressure to perform. Having lost to Pakistan, this makes a must win game for them and we will try and put pressure on them," Kamande added.

The Teams (From):

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wicketkeeper), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath.

Kenya: Jimmy Kamande (captain), Tanmay Mishra, James Ngoche, Shem Ngoche, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, David Obuya (wicketkeeper), Nehemiah Odhiambo, Thomas Odoyo, Peter Ongondo, Elijah Otieno, Maurice Ouma, Rakep Patel, Steve Tikolo and Seren.

Sri Lanka vs Kenya

ODIs

Sri Lanka have won four and lost one out of five contested against Kenya in ODIs between 1996 and 2003.

ICC Cricket World Cup

At the ICC Cricket World Cup, the two teams met three times - Sri Lanka won two ( Kandy - March 6, 1996 and Southampton - May 30, 1999 and Kenya once (February 24, 2003).

Overall World Cup

Kenya have won six games - one each against Sri Lanka , Bangladesh , West Indies and Zimbabwe apart from both their games against Canada .  As against their six wins, Kenya have lost 18 out of 25 played (NR 1) - winning % 25.00.

Sri Lanka have won 26 and lost 31 out of 59 played - winning % 45.68 - Tied 1  NR 1.

New Zealand vs Kenya World Cup Match 2 at Chennai Live Score Highlights and Preview

New Zealand take on Bangladesh in the second World Cup game of the 2011 edition of the tournament. The match will be played at Chepauk in Chennai on February 20 and will be a Group A encounter.

New Zealand go into this game with a hard-fought win over Ireland in the warm-ups after having posted more than 300. Kenya had met West Indies and had them on the mat for a small period at the start of the innings before Ramnaresh Sarwan battled through to a match-winning century.

However, Kenya did defeat Afghanistan and Ireland in the two other warm-ups that had taken place before the teams got down to the sub-continent, making them a side to watch out for.

Interestingly, New Zealand is one of the top teams which has never won a World Cup before. With the kind of form that they had shown in the last 12 months leading up to the tournament, they couldn’t be farther from their dreams of doing so this year. Whitewashes in Bangladesh and India were preceded by a tri-series in Sri Lanka where they had failed to qualify for the final.

The Chennai track was in news during the warm-up game between South Africa and Zimbabwe when both captains complained about the slow nature of the track. Things may just remain the same.

New Zealand v Kenya World Cup Group A at Chennai Live Score here:

New Zealand v Kenya World Cup Group A at Chennai Timings:

The New Zealand v Kenya World Cup game will be a day match and will start from 0400 hours GMT or 0930 hours local time.

The Teams:

Kenya is a top-heavy side with a huge dependence on the pair of Steve Tikolo and Collins Obuya. In the aforementioned three warm-up games, Tikolo has scores of 126 and 15 while Obuya has made 49, 19 and 68. Only wicket-keeper Maurice Ouma got anywhere close to a half century apart from this.

Fortunately for the side, the likes of Seren Waters at the top of the innings and Tanmay Mishra in the middle order can bat and they will look to ensure that the side overcomes its collapses of the past and gets to respectable scores.

It is their pace bowling that will be asked questions with only Thomas Odoyo having any kind of experience with the new ball. Again, Tikolo could add valuable support as far as spin bowling is concerned.

New Zealand have their own woes and the problem is that it isn’t known why they are in such a rut. There are occasions when the batting doesn’t get off the ground and on others when the bowling gets carted around. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many when both, their batting and fielding gets going together.

Martin Guptill’s century against Ireland should help him gain some confidence but one gets the sense that coach John Wright’s decision to push Brendon McCullum down the order has backfired. Since then, he has been moved back to the top but is clearly short on confidence and will need some urgent runs.

Where New Zealand will struggle is their bowling attack as they will look to adjust to the spin-friendly tracks of the sub-continent.

Why watch this match?

The two sides have played only once in World Cup cricket and New Zealand had crushed the Kenyans by 141 runs – in 2007. However, more importantly, they were to meet in the 2003 edition of the tournament in Kenya but the Kiwis had refused to travel to the country because of security concerns. Kenya will look to avenge that embarrassment and the following loss this time.

Players to look out for:

James Franklin has shown enough in recent times to be termed as New Zealand’s main player. Kenya, on the other hand, will need their openers Waters and David Obuya to not lose early wickets.

New Zealand vs Kenya 2nd ODI Match - MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai

 New Zealand  vs  Kenya

2nd ODI Match - MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai
On Feb 20, 2011 from 09:30 Local | 04:00 GMT | 10:00 BST

New Zealand would take on Kenya in the 2nd ODI match of the ICC World Cup 2011. The match will be hosted at Chennai. Schedule time of Match is 09:30 Local Time (04:00 GMT). The match is schedule to be played on Feb 20, 2011. The match would be played in day time. Get List of all Cricket Matches between Kenya vs New Zealand.