Yesterday, 2nd April 2015, an estimated 5 gunmen stormed the Garissa University College, taking many innocent lives and injuring others.
Eyewitness accounts (courtesy of The Standard) suggest that gunshots could be heard as from 5.20 AM. A college cook said that the gunmen began by accessing the student's hostels. The two college hostels are situated some 500meters from the main gate. The entire college has about 800 students. All of them live in the two university hostels situated about 20 metres apart.The college administration block is some 50 metres from the main gate. Lecture halls are another 30 metres away.
The official numbers are these: a total of 147 killed and 79 seriously injured. A survivor student said that the Gunmen spoke in broken Swahili, and that they brandished AK 47 guns and also possessed explosives. They allegedly asked victims to narrate a verse from the Qur'an or explain an Islam teaching. Christians were shot on the spot. Terrorist group Al-shabaab claimed responsibility for the heinous killings.
Just who are these Al-shabaab?
Al shabaab means "the Youth" in English.
It emerged as the radical youth wing of Somalia's now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts, which controlled Mogadishu in 2006, before being forced out by Ethiopian forces.
There are numerous reports of foreign jihadists going to Somalia to help Al-Shabaab, from neighbouring countries, as well as the US and Europe.
It is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK and is believed to have between 7,000 and 9,000 fighters. (courtesy of BBC)
They are also known as Harakat Al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen which is Arabic for "movement of striving youth". The group is based in Somalia. In 2012, it pledged allegiance to the militant Islamist group Al- Quaeda. The group describes itself as waging jihad against "enemies of Islam", and is engaged in combat against the Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).
How did Kenya ever get involved in a war with the Al- shabaab?
Kenya's incursion into southern Somalia started after the kidnapping of two Spanish women, who were working for Médecins Sans Frontières at the Dadaab refugee camp. The abductions were allegedly carried out by Al-Shabaab militants.The Kenyan government claimed its troop deployment had received approval from the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG). Kenya's Foreign Affairs Minister at the time, Moses Wetangula, stated that the deployment of Kenyan troops was at the request of the TFG.
On 16 October, an unnamed Somali military commander said that Kenyan troops had crossed the border and, in a joint operation with Somalian forces, pushed Al Shabaab out of two bases near the Kenya border. Abdi Yusuf, a senior Somali military commander, confirmed that two warplanes had attacked Al Shabaab bases, but did not confirm their origin. He noted: "I can't identify the military aircraft, but our neighbour Kenya is fully supporting us militarily and our mission is to drive Al-Shabaab out of the region". (courtesy of U.K Reuters)
Since the entry of Kenya into Somalia in the fight against Al-shabaab, Kenya has suffered a series of attacks and bombings. According to US Embassy in 2011/2012, there were at least 17 attacks involving grenades or explosive devices in Kenya. At least 48 people died in these attacks, and around 200 people were injured. Nine of these attacks occurred in North Eastern Province, including locations in Dadaab, Wajir, and Garissa. Four attacks occurred in Nairobi, and four in Mombasa. Targets included police stations and police vehicles, nightclubs and bars, churches, a religious gathering, a downtown building of small shops, and a bus station. Another attack involved two simultaneous assaults on churches in Garissa on 1 July 2012. In this attack, 17 people were killed and about 50 people were injured.
Further still, on 21st September 2013, gunmen targeted and shot customers at Westgate Shopping Mall. There have been several other attacks where in total, hundreds of lives have been lost.
Now, that was just a quick recap of what we are dealing with. What has the government done in response to these terror threats?
After the Westgate attack, His Excellency the president, Uhuru Kenyatta, in his speech said:
....." To honour the memory of those who lost their lives in this attack, I have declared 3 days of National Mourning starting tomorrow, during which official flags will fly at half-mast throughout the country. Ladies and Gentlemen, As I had vowed earlier, we have ashamed and defeated our attackers. That part of our task has been completed by our multi-agency security team. 5terrorists were killed with gunfire.
....... I promised that we shall have full accountability for the mindless destruction, deaths, pain, loss and suffering we have all undergone as a national family. These cowards will meet justice, as will their accomplices and patrons, wherever they are.
....... With our openness and inclusivity, we shall confront and overcome all the challenges facing us as a nation. We shall rise as one, defend and build this nation together. In one accord we have triumphed. In one accord, we shall prosper. The incident which we now put behind was certainly not welcome. Yet it has strengthened us and renewed our resolve to live as one strong, open, stable, democratic and prosperous Republic, where people of all races, cultures and faiths pursue happiness together. We must live as a diverse, tolerant society with neither bias nor barriers to all people of goodwill. Our openness, enterprise and generosity have brought us through adversity to where we are, and will impel us achieve our collective and individual dreams..."
(courtesy of Jamhuri magazine)
....."After another cold blooded attack that left 36 dead in Mandera, Uhuru pledged to intensify the war on terror. I quote,
After decades of horror, fear, outrage and frustration, we resolved as a nation to protect our sovereignty by pursuing our enemies beyond our borders into Somalia. By mid-2011, it had become abundantly clear that our long border with an ungoverned territory teeming with violent criminals was a threat to our national stability. Joining military efforts to bring peace to Somalia was the inevitable answer to our terror and security threats. In October, 2011, the Government authorized the KDF to pursue the Al Shabaab militia into Somalia.
This decision was right then, and remains so today. Following requests by regional, continental and global actors, KDF joined AMISOM in February 2012. We remain part of the African Union mission to date.
The incursion in Somalia has been largely successful. Al-Shabaab is depleted and on the retreat. However, even in its diminished state, it remains a threat to our nation. In desperation, it formally affiliated itself in 2012 to Al Qaeda, the international terrorist group.
This way, they secured resources and ability to infiltrate civilian populations and recruit, then radicalize Kenyan youths to execute attacks within our communities. This is why we have witnessed intensified extremist rhetoric against the KDF campaign in Somalia as well as support for murder and impunity. This reprehensible rhetoric has embraced Al Qaeda’s extremist ideas of setting up an Islamic Caliphate in East Africa...."
..."Terrorism and violent crime are grave threats to our nation. We are in a war against terrorists in and outside our country. With the aid of sympathizers, supporters and collaborators among our communities, terrorists have retaliated viciously to deter us from our determined, effective and successful effort to rid the Horn of Africa of terrorism and violent extremism. We will not flinch or relent in the war against terrorism in our country and our region. We shall continue to inflict painful casualties on these terrorists until we secure our country and region. Our stability and prosperity depends on a secure neighbourhood. This is our commitment.
We ask every Kenyan to take a principled stand against the evil of terror, and to support this war. We are in this together, all the way.
Innocent Kenyan lives have been lost, in a most harrowing manner, to these animals. Too many lives, too painfully snuffed out. Again, I extend condolences to the families of all Kenyans who lost their lives in the hands of terrorists. My Government continues to extend support to you, and we pray that God gives you His divine solace, and comforts each of you in this painful moment.
In our shock, bitterness and outrage, many Kenyans, leaders included, have lost sight of the context of this situation, and the scale of the war on terror.
Kenya is at war. Our enemy thrives on sowing panic and despondency in our hearts. We aid this enemy when we succumb to suspicion, fear, finger-pointing and blame-games...."
Beyond any reasonable doubt, the president plays, very well, the role of national cohesion and unity. Looking back at several speeches he has made, I feel that his words are definitely heartfelt.Through and through, he brings us together with unifying messages. He, rightly so, does not fail to address the Nation in these times of despair.
I have to point out, though, that these times of despair do not have to happen, and are quite preventable. An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information and intelligence in support of law enforcement, national security, defence and foreign policy objectives. It is clear that the government, as well as several higher learning institutions had received information of the looming doom.
What do you do when you know, for certain, that something bad is going to happen? Lets take an example of a gust of wind, roaring, grey clouds, so full and heavy that they will soon burst. There is that oh so familiar scent of moist earth that tells you it is going to rain. If you were set to leave the house, you arm yourself. A rain coat, an umbrella, perhaps a heavy jacket. To say the least, you will not be a victim of the heavy downpour, rather a brave person that faced it head on and did not suffer the inevitable fate of being rained on and helpless with a bad cold and flu sure to come tomorrow.
In response to the attack, the government slapped a dawn to dusk curfew on four counties bordering Somalia — Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Tana River — and ordered residents to remain indoors between 6.30pm and 6.30am. Garissa University College Dean of Students Jacktone Kweya Opande said students called him and told him that they had been attacked. “We managed to call the county security officials who mobilised other security personnel but before they arrived, students kept calling us to tell us that their comrades had been shot and that some of them had even died,” said Mr Opande. (Courtesy of the Daily Nation). Why were these security officials not already at the scene, battling the terrorists, despite the fact that Intelligence sources knew this would happen?
Seeing that there was information on the matter prior to its occurrence, it surprises and annoys me as a citizen that more could not be done to stop it. My questions would be: How can five gunmen overpower a whole troupe of defense forces? What is the use of Government Intelligence if not to stop threats?
It is definitely my intention to remain impartial in my writing. Therefore, I have to say that the government has managed to stop several threats on gaining information of their looming occurrence. Further still, even things well done can be better done.
What can we do as citizens?
We are only human. We reserve the right to be afraid, concerned and angry. We can also choose to be strong, united and vigilant. As put by author Sun Tzu, If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. Moreover, I cannot put it better than famous writer Louisa May Walcott who said: I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.
May those departed rest in peace, and may the families of the affected find strength and comfort.
That's all guys! Feel free to share your views and interact. Positivity all the way!
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