Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero asks Kenyans not to live in fear

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and his wife Susan shop at Nakumatt Ukay which is near the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Sunday.  [PHOTO: GEORGE MULALA/STANDARD]

By RAWLINGS OTIENO

NAIROBI; KENYA: Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has urged Kenyans to go about their business as usual as the dust of the Westgate Mall attack settled.

Kidero said Kenyans should allow security chiefs to do a thorough investigation into the terror attack. “I want to urge the Nairobians not to feel intimidated by the terror attack but instead go on with their normal lives. We must show the terrorists that we cannot be intimidated by the situation,” said Kidero.

Speaking at the Nakumatt Ukay in Nairobi Sunday, Kidero assured Nairobians that the city was safe and that they should not fear shopping around the town.

He said his government has been consulting with the national government to make sure that the city was safe and vowed that security personnel are on high alert to avert any terrorism act.

“We are in consultation with the national government and there should be no need to fear. I want to assure the residents of Nairobi that the city is very safe,” assured the governor.

At the same time he asked Kenyans to be on the look out and make sure they report to the police any person they suspect is up to no good.

Dent their spirit

Kidero also lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta on leading from the front to fight terror and termed his action uniting in times of crisis. “I know the President is not a politician but a leader from the corporate world. I’m sure if there is anybody who failed to execute his mandate then heads will roll,” said Kidero.

The governor, who was flanked by his spouse Dr Susan Mboya-Kidero, went to shop at the Ukay mall without security guards to demonstrate that the city was now safe and the residents should continue with their lives.

Mrs Kidero said the terror attack took away loved ones from Kenyans but said this should not dent their spirit of leading normal lives.

Meanwhile, survivors of the deadly attack have continued to recount how they escaped the jaws of death on September 21.

One of the survivors, Adonija Odhiambo, an employee at Nakumatt, narrated how he stayed in the dustbin of a lorry for almost two hours before he was rescued.

Odhiambo said that he had just completed packing goods for a client and was taking them to her car when he met the terrorists at the entrance. “I had finished packing goods for a shopper,” he said.