Garissa University survivors reading newspapers after the Thursday attack that killed left their 142 colleagues dead. Photo/CFM.
While condemning the Thursday attack that left 142 students and six security forces dead, the CS stated that those who committed the heinous acts do not represent Muslim ideals and should be prosecuted.
“They do not represent muslim ideals at all,” she said, “those are criminals”.
She said the government had done much more in fighting terrorism and urged Kenyans to support the efforts.
“Fighting terrorism is actually like being a goal keeper. Nobody really remembers the hundred saves that you made but everybody remembers that one goal that went through,” she said, adding “We have been able to deter and prevent many incidents of terrorism but whenever one goes through, then we begin to hurt and ask ourselves many questions and to look at what we could have done.”
Her sentiments were echoed by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims legal advisor Ibrahim Lethome who stated that Muslim leaders countrywide have set up an initiative to support those affected by the incident to cater for their expenses.
“Our main responsibility here is to teach people what is the true Islam and then if anybody decides to go to the extreme that is where we are appealing to the law enforcement agencies to take up the matter with such people,” he said.
SUPKEM Secretary General Adan Wachu further pointed out that Muslim leaders will now actively embark on preaching peace especially among the youth who are more susceptible to radicalization.
“The Muslim leadership is doing everything possible with our Imams who are all affiliated to Muslim institutions. Muslim Youths are no different from Christian youths or any other youth. We are trying to do everything possible to help the government to ensure that these youth live within the tenets of Islamic religion,” he stated.
Leaders across the country have condemned the attack that left 142 students and six security forces dead when Al Shabaab militants launched a deadly attack on the college.
The National Counter Terrorism Centre on Saturday called on members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or persons as part of measures to fight terrorism in the country.
In a statement, the Centre’s Director General Isaac Ochieng wants Kenyans to report any concerns of terrorism activities to the nearest police station or security officials.
What to look for he says, include suspicious persons who “are either in unauthorized areas or appear lost, dress inappropriately or overdressed for a given weather condition, loiter or observing activities on facilities without authority or just wandering around or outside a facility at strategic areas.”
Kenyans have also been urged to watch for vehicles parked in unauthorized locations, out-of-place vans, trucks, motorcycles or bicycles and cars vehicles unattended for prolonged duration.
Suspicious items include unknown, unattended, out of place or unexpected deliveries like packages, backpacks, bags, boxes. The items maybe in places like a waiting area or washroom, roadsides, lecture halls, dining halls, etc.
US President Barack Obama called President Uhuru Kenyatta and vowed to stand “hand-in-hand” with its government and people Friday, as they reel from an Islamist attack that killed 148 university students and security officers.
Somalia’s Al Shabaab Islamists have claimed responsibility for the attack, which was Kenya’s deadliest since the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi, and the bloodiest ever by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants.
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