Riots after Nairobi city blast

Inter-Religious Council of Kenya chairman Sheikh Adan Wachu and  NCCK Secretary General Canon Peter Karanja visit Eastleigh blast victim Jared Wagah at KNH.

 

By Boniface Ongeri and Cyrus Ombati

NAIROBI; KENYA: Nairobi’s bustling capital of informal business Eastleigh on Monday exploded in post-blast chaos as Kenya Defence Force shut down Garissa town following killing of its three officers by suspected Al-Shabaab militia.

Eastleigh, the scene of Sunday’s blast whose death toll has reached eight with 21 victims still hospitalised, was the scene of running battles as youths from neighbouring Mathare informal settlement came marching ostensibly to protest the terror attack.

In their misplaced notion they drew a direct line between innocent families of Kenya’s Somalis with Al Shabaab sympathisers, though in actual fact as police would say, they were mere opportunists out to loot shops and break into private properties.

As the violence unfolded, and fearing a confrontation either targeting one community or between members of different religious groups, clerics from both Christian and Islamic groups called for restraint and condemned the blast as a criminal act, which should be treated as such.

At least ten people were injured and businesses closed in Eastleigh. A total of eight were confirmed dead from the blast, which was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Sunday along Malewa road in Eastleigh Section Two.

In Garissa, at least 50 people were injured and property destroyed following the killing of three KDF soldiers.

At the local Muqti Market, several business premises and vehicles were set ablaze.

Several shacks lining the main roads were also set ablaze as residents claimed security officers descended on people and properties after the killing.

Some of the injured were admitted to Garissa Provincial Hospital while others were treated and discharged.

Journalists were also not spared as the military threatened to shoot those trying to cover the operation. 

Motorists were also not allowed to operate and no vehicle was entering or leaving Garissa town for the rest of the afternoon.

Used gun butts

 “I was rushing home but the security officers got hold of me saying we would not get away with killing the soldiers. They kicked and slapped me and even used gun butts to beat me — all along saying that we had blundered for killing a soldier,” said Joshua Odoyo, a construction worker,.

In Eastleigh, those injured were hit by flying stones while machetes carried by marauding youths, who mostly targeted civilians of Somali origin, slashed those they could reach.

However, no deaths were reported but tension was still reigning as darkness fell last evening.

The riots began early in the morning along Juja Road before spreading to Eastleigh.

The usually busy streets of the estate were deserted with marauding youths taking control as they engaged police in a cat-and-mouse chase.

The chaos erupted after tens of youths started attacking businesses belonging to Somalis in the area accusing them of harbouring terrorists allegedly behind the Sunday attack that left eight people dead.

To protect themselves Somali youths took up arms with machetes, sticks and metal rods in a standoff that lasted for hours.

At Kenyatta National Hospital relatives flocked casualty wards looking for missing kin who fell victim to the Sunday blast.

  Travel advisories

Hospital officials said three people died at the hospital bringing the total of those who died to eight.

Religious leaders Canon Peter Karanja of the National Council of Churches of Kenya and Adan Wachu of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) also visited the hospital and condemned the attacks.

Following the incident, the British government reviewed and reissued travel advisory on its citizens.

 “The overall level of the advice has not changed. We advise against all but essential travel to the Tana River Delta triangle, to within 60 kilometres of the Somali border (including Kiwayu and coastal areas North of Pate Island), to Garissa District and to low income areas of Nairobi, including all township or slum areas,” read part of a statement issued yesterday.

The statement added rural areas, particularly the Arid North and Northeastern parts of Kenya, experience sporadic cattle rustling, banditry and ethnic clashes, which regularly cause fatalities.

Clear signs the riotous mob in Eastleigh were criminals came out after they also started attacking and robbing journalists. At least four journalists suffered this fate.

Passersby were not spared the robbing spree. Police fired in the air several times and threw teargas canisters to disperse the gangs.

Nairobi Area police boss Moses Ombati said the youths were simply thugs out to rob. “If they want, let them hold peaceful processions but not attack people and their premises. Otherwise these are thugs,” said Ombati.

  Attacked and robbed

Locals said the attacks had been ongoing overnight on Sunday and several people including women had been attacked and robbed.

“We have been hearing screams overnight and the thieves attacked many people,” said a resident.

Operations along Juja Road and adjacent areas were halted for hours as the riots continued with cars being stoned.

Hassan Abdulahi, a local resident said three of his relatives were attacked in the chaos.

“Three of my relatives have been taken to hospital after they were beaten up, we are being accused of causing insecurity and bombings, yet we don’t know who is doing it, let the government protect us,” Abdulahi, a trader, pleaded.

“I closed my shop and stayed in front to guard it after we were attacked by youths throwing stones,” said Ali Ahmed, who sells gold and jewelry.

He said they are Kenyans and not Al-Shabaab members and cannot be held accountable for the militia’s actions.

A group of businessmen and religious leaders condemned the attacks and urged police to take action and stop them.

Eastleigh area, known as Little Mogadishu because of its predominantly Somali population, has often been a target of the violence.