It’s
over a year now since our defense forces crossed into a lawless Somalia, in
pursuit of the Al -Shabab. The
incursion has borne dividends as the militants have been deposed of power and
driven away from their strong-holds. Kismayu, the militants’ heart of
operations is well within sight of our forces, now operating under the African
Mission in Somalia, AMISOM. Tabda, Belles Coqani, Dobley, Afmadhow and other
towns captured by our forces have been pacified and law is slowly but surely
returning to Somalia. Beaches are now coming back to life. The people of Somali
are now realizing the opportunities in their country that for more than a
decade has never known peace.
However,
this progress has posed a nightmare of its kind in Kenya. Terrorists and their
sympathizers are now striking the country, in attacks reminiscent of a dying
horse. These have left anguish and agony in its trail. Grenades and improvised
explosive devices, have killed Kenyans, maimed others and instilled fear and
despondency within the Kenyan people. Perhaps the most chilling of them all
happened at two churches in Garissa. Seventeen innocent Kenyans, among them two
policemen assigned to provide security, lost their lives, after deadly attacks
at the Garissa African Inland Church and Our Lady of Consolata Catholic Church,
in Garissa. Many others were left
injured. In attacks never before witnessed in the country, places of sanctuary
and worship had been turned by terrorists into slaughter houses. These attacks
will forever go down the annals of history as the deadliest, since the 1998
bombings.
In
a pattern that has become so obvious, these attacks are on innocent Kenyans, in
crowded places. It is sad to note that places of worship have not been spared
either. It seems like nobody is safe. This comes at a time when political
activity is abuzz. Kenyans, just like any other country, throng venues for
political rallies. This presents the most complex of challenges to a police
force that is trying its best, but lack of adequate resources; machinery and
good will are hampering its efforts.
Just
in the run-up to the constitutional referendum in 2010, terror struck Nairobi’s
Uhuru Park, where a prayer meeting cum NO-political rally was being conducted.
Several people lost their lives and many more were injured. As a country, we
should be vigilant enough and help our men in uniform in combating this menace,
posed by cowards. Political rallies, mainly due to their high attendance
figures may form a soft target for these blood-thirsty terrorists.
The
country is in heightened political activity. The mammoth rallies are back. This
is a time when our security forces need our help. A time the concerted effort
of every Kenyan of good-will is what will win the war against these cowards,
out to shed the blood of innocent Kenyans. Let us be vigilant enough and
compliment the efforts of our men in uniform. As a country let us be wary
enough to ensure that these terrorists do not find their way into our political
rallies and wreck havoc as they have already demonstrated in churches and
social joints across parts of the country.
These
cowards have already lost it to the might of our defense forces at their own
backyard and have resulted to hitting hard at the soft targets. This is what
has led to the attacks in our social places and churches, leaving behind a trail
of anguish and agony. Past incidents should have taught us that these
terrorists are determined to cause pain on their way down. Good people and Kenyans, of goodwill let us
work together with our security forces, for it is needed, now more than ever.
We
might be coasting to victory away in Mogadishu, but let us not forget that we
need to be vigilant at home.
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