KENYA: Church Leaders Remember Victims of Garissa Attack

NAIROBI, MAY 12, 2015(CISA)-Church leaders in Kenya on Monday May 11 held interdenominational prayers in remembrance of the 148 people killed in Garissa on April 2.

The prayers held at Ufungamano house in Nairobi brought together church leaders from the Catholic Church, Africa Inland Church, Deliverance church, and the Presbyterian Church.

“As we remember the victims of the Garissa terror attack, we should continue to pray for those who were involved in this tragedy- those who actually killed so that they be converted and have respect for life,” said John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.

Archbishop Martin Kivuva of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa noted that insecurity “had not only eroded the positive side of Kenya but is also driving a wedge between religious groups.”

He said: “Some say God has left us. Some ask has God abandoned Kenya? We have been the pride of Africa for many years. We have been known for our political maturity, as a business hub and centre for tourism, but this has now been washed away by terror and banditry,” said Archbishop Kivuva.

Archbishop Dr Eliud Wabukala, the head of the Anglican Church of Kenya urged the leaders to stand with one voice to defeat terrorism.

“The attack should not be forgotten as no one has the mandate to take life. The government must move with speed to ensure that justice is served because we hear of arrests and people being taken to court but never the conclusion of the cases,” Archbishop Wabukala said.

He said the country “should not continue to condone the culture of short memory, where noise is made after every attack only to be followed by studious silence.”

The British High commissioner to Kenya, Dr Christian Turner also attended the function and assured of his country’s support in fighting terror.

On April 2, gunmen stormed the Garissa University College, killing 148 people and injuring 79.

Leave a Reply

*