Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is blaming local political leaders and criminal gangs for the terrorist attacks on coastal communities that killed some 60 people.  This is despite the fact that Islamist militant group al Shabab from Somalia claimed responsibility for the carnage.

The latest attack came on Monday night in Majembeni village in which as many as 15 people died.  It’s believed a dozen women were abducted as well.  On Sunday night, the attackers slaughtered 49 people in an attack on hotels and a police station in Mpeketoni, where the victims were confirmed to be Christian and the attackers were heard speaking with Somali accents. 

In a nationally televised address, Kenyatta said al Shabab was not responsible, but rather local leaders.  He didn’t provide details.  But he did accuse police of ignoring advance warning of the attacks. 

“Accordingly, all concerned officers have been suspended and will be charged immediately in a court of law,” Kenyatta said.  He also accused unnamed local officials of slamming rival ethnic groups, saying, “My deputy and I will never go the route of ethnic violence.”