Kenya freezes assets suspected of funding Islamic extremists

A senior Kenyan official says the government is freezing assets of dozens of organizations and individuals that he said are suspected of financing Islamic extremist activities.

Treasury Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge said Wednesday the freeze of assets applies to a list of 85 companies and individuals identified by the government's Financial Reporting Center because of suspicious transactions. The list includes organizations dealing in remittances to Somalia and human rights groups.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed a sharp response to last week's attack on Garissa University College by four gunmen. Al-Shabab, an Islamic extremist group from Somalia, claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 148 people.