The AMECEA Online News has received with shock of what has happened in the morning of 2 April 2015, (Holy Thursday) when gunmen stormed the Garissa University College in Garissa, Kenya, killing at least 147 people, and injuring 79 or more. Al-Shabaab, took responsibility for the attack. The attackers separated students according to their religion; and that Muslims were spared and killing those identified as Christians.
AMECEA Online News stands in solidarity with the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, the
Kenyan Government, the Diocese of Garissa and the citizen of Kenya in condoling with the families of the massacre that took place at University of Garissa. We pray that the Lord gives the families and their loved ones the strength to overcome your grief and continue to show God’s love without prejudice of race, color, religion, or ethnic background.
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| Students Demonstrating in Nairobi denouncing the attack |
In the same breadth we would wish to strongly condemn this unjust, ungodly and inhumane behavior that was meted on innocent youth. There is no joy, nor glory in spilling blood.
We do call upon the duty bearers to start acting and act decisively. We wish to call upon the governments within the region as well as the international community to devise a common strategy to stop this atrocity which is now getting roots in our region. There should be a renewed sense of urgency to deal with these vices of radicalization and marginalization according to Faith. With this sort of attacks, it is not only Kenya that bleeds, but also the entire region.
It is also time for those who are charged with leadership to come out and show direction to the broken social fabric of society and the declining religion tolerance. We would like to challenge the leaders in the affected areas of our region to beseech their communities to provide information to authorities so as to avoid deaths both of innocent persons and also of youth who know no better because of radicalization.
We would wish to also raise the concern of small weapons. We are not doing enough to stem the access of weapons in the region. The international community and the governments in the region need to look into tackling the supply of arms since this will be a sure way to reduce the amount of bloodshed within this region. Preventing access to weapons will prevent wanton death. Security of our people must be our major concern.
All of us within the region have to be vigilant and willing to stand for what is just and right. We have to consistently be aware of the danger posed by persons of ill intent. Keeping each other in safe has to become our clarion call.
Once again we send our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, friends and Kenya as a country, as we call for a stronger response from governments within the region and support of the international community to end the problem.
By AMECEA Online News Editor
