Muslim passengers protect Christians in Mandera bus attack

According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery the Muslim passengers told off the attackers saying they either kill them together or leave them alone in the bus attack which was headed to Mandera from Nairobi/FILE

According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery the Muslim passengers told off the attackers saying they either kill them together or leave them alone in the bus attack which was headed to Mandera from Nairobi.

“These Muslims sent a very important message of the unity of purpose, that we are all Kenyans and that we are not separated by religion,” Nkaissery said. “Everybody can profess their own religion but we are still one country and one people. And that was a very good message from our brothers and sisters from the Muslim community.”

Speaking to the media on Monday afternoon Nkaissery condemned the attack which saw two people killed and a few others injured.

He says it was unfortunate that the bus which was headed to Mandera from Nairobi, did not have police escort at the time after the police car broke down at some section of the journey.

“Yes, we had that ambush this morning and unfortunately the bus was being escorted but the police vehicle had a breakdown and the bus decided to continue without the police escort. So this is very unfortunate incident but the police force is in hot pursuit of these criminals,” the CS said.

Nkaissery was briefing journalists after touring the Westgate Mall to check the security status of the mall which has had a history of one of the worst terror attack in September 2013 that led to the death of 68 people.

Despite the Mandera incident, the CS has assured that there is security in the country especially during this festive season.

“I just want to inform Kenyans that the security agencies have put in place very elaborate plans to ensure that Kenyans are secured during this festive season, and I personally had to tour this mall, did some shopping and now I am going back to the office,” he said.

Apart from Westgate, Nkaissery toured The Junction Mall on Monday as well the coastal areas over the weekend especially the beaches to check the security measures put in place to protect Kenyans.

About The Author

MARGARET WAHITO

Margaret has been a business reporter for the past four years. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Communications and Public Relations from Moi University. She also holds a diploma in Film and Video production from the Kenya institute of Mass Communications. Apart from journalism, she has interest in community work, especially helping the disadvantaged.

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