Kenya freezes assets of groups and individuals suspected of funding Islamic extremists

John Njue, right, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and current Archbishop of Nairobi, prays with some of the relatives of students killed last Thursday in the Garissa University attack, Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Some Kenyan relatives of students who were killed in an attack by Islamic militants say they will offer prayers of forgiveness for the killers, responding to an appeal for compassion from an archbishop who visited a morgue where victims' bodies are being kept. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (The Associated Press)

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John Njue, left, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and current Archbishop of Nairobi, meets with some of the relatives of students killed last Thursday in the Garissa University attack, Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Some Kenyan relatives of students who were killed in an attack by Islamic militants say they will offer prayers of forgiveness for the killers, responding to an appeal for compassion from an archbishop who visited a morgue where victims' bodies are being kept. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (The Associated Press)

A group of relatives pray after viewing the body of a relative killed in last Thursday's attack on Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya, at Chiromo funeral home, Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Al-Shabab gunmen rampaged through the university at dawn Thursday, killing over 140 people in the group's deadliest attack in the East African country. Four militants were slain by security forces to end the siege just after dusk. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (The Associated Press)

NAIROBI, Kenya – 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.