Kenyans should avoid terrorists’ devious trap

By READERS DIALOGUE

The attack on Westgate Mall is a cowardly and desperate attempt to divide our country along religious lines. The architects of this evil terror assault should be informed that Kenyans will never be intimidated or cowed into doing what they think we should.

Citizens of this great nation are lion-hearted and will remain firm, and patriotic to defend and protect our motherland with our blood.

By hitting us below the belt, the  heartless Al-Shabaab terrorists should be informed that their days are numbered. For killing defenceless and innocent people, let them  be told that one day they will pay for their sins.

To those who sponsor this young, lost and brainwashed generation: You will not be spared either.

These acts of provocation will not succeed as architects of the terror attacks and their sympathisers  want us to engage in similar savage and primitive wars and make Kenya a lawless, failed state.

Kenyans must stand up and say no to their demonic plot. We must also support our security forces as they protect our motherland as they cannot be everywhere every time.

{Enock Onsando, Mombasa}

 

I send my sympathies to the families and friends of those who  lost their loved ones in the horrific terrorist Westgate attack. I strongly condemn this indiscriminate and brutal killing of innocent people. The entire nation and international community was shocked by the ferocity of the attack. Cowardly terrorist attacks have no place in Kenya.

The swift action by our security forces to battle the criminals and rescue the injured and terror-stricken people from the besieged building is highly commendable.

Needless to say, the attack triggered a humanitarian catastrophe of enormous proportions and the Kenya Red Cross Society and Kenyans of goodwill should be commended for their extraordinary humanitarian intervention to mitigate the crisis.

It is the prayer of every peace-loving Kenyan that such a despicable act will never happen in our country again.

{Joseph G Muthama, Thika}

 

Terrorism has been a security concern all over the world and particularly here in Kenya. The terrorism menace has caused deaths, suffering and loss of property of many innocent Kenyans. This has been evident in what has happened in the Westgate Mall since last Saturday, as well as the bombings, shootings, kidnappings  and the grenade attacks in many parts of the country in the recent past. I send my heartfelt condolences to the many Kenyans who have been victims, those who have lost their relatives or have been injured in these heinous acts.

As we go through this challenging and trying moment it is important ask ourselves many questions.  What is wrong with our security? Is there a weakness in our institutions of security training? How did these terrorists make their way into our capital, armed with machine guns? Is there connivance between some security personnel and the terrorists?

{Abdi Aden Ismail, Nairobi}

Or are some Kenyans sympathizing with and supporting this heinous and vicious activity of terrorism? Also we need to think whether this attacks has anything to do with religion, region or particular community in Kenya. More importantly, are we Kenyans victims of wrongs committed by our government to our neigbouring countries.

 

Our security personnel have mostly been subjective in their approach in solving and dealing with the terrorism menace. Many a times certain community, religion or region is targeted and its members harassed, killed and a times deported from their mother land without any evidence of connection to any terrorist group or activity. This has made many patriotic Kenyans radicalized, and as a result fail to volunteer information of security importance or may even start ascribing to this organization. This needs to be castigated and rectified so as to get the support and the cooperation of all Kenyans in the fight against terrorism.

{Joseph G Muthama, Thika}