Peace on Trial in the Face of the Terrorists attack, not just in Kenya but in the Region and Beyond

A birds eye view of  smoke rising from west gate
shopping mall after attack

The terrorist attack meted on innocent Kenyans at the Westgate shopping Mall on that fateful day of 21st September 2013, that left over 60 people dead (As of now) and hundreds injured, brutally ushered the country into a moment of agony and mourning. Perhaps there are good reasons why this mood was not just a confine of Kenya but indeed a great concern in the whole region. The fear is real and founded on the fact that at this rate, no country is airtight safe from these heinous attacks; they can happen anywhere anytime…and God forbid.

Lest we forget, it will be recalled that this is only reminiscent of the bomb blast that happened in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salam simultaneously on the 7^th July 1998 where 257 lost their lives and 6,000 injured, whose legacy was, and still is, devastation and desperation. Down the memory lane, we further remember with sadness the attack that took place in Kampala, Uganda in July 2010 killing 74 people and injuring 70.  Pretty recently, on 7^th May 2013 Tanzania suffered from a similar attack in Arusha that left several people dead and some injured. Our memory can take us for a tour to places and times these attacks have been happening especially around Nairobi.  Evidently, this is a worrying trend to a people that thirst for peace and value it; to a people who value human life.

Now the dust is slowly settling down and the bellowing smoke vanishing but not so fast for the memories; the quiet is coming in to haunt us when we recall the slow and painful death that took place in that once elegantly standing shopping mall. And we are asking questions! More questions than answers. Or maybe! What can we do to stop this ever happening again to us? How did a disaster of such magnitude sail through all the multi-security organs, systems and agencies?

Maybe its time we begin asking different questions. What role did I, as a person play in all this? Did somebody out of selfishness and greed allow the passage of dangerous arsenals for some bribe? Did somebody sleep on important information and clue out of general lethargy, irresponsibility or otherwise? These are tough questions but they must be asked because when we talk of corruption this is what it can come down to. Somebody needs to be asking himself or herself, is it that little bribery that I took that cost all those lives…how will I ever pay back! Did I loose an opportunity to save all those lost lives by failing to act on information that would have averted all this devastation…again, how will I ever pay? You may not have been inside the mall shooting and killing people but are you involved in the other deaths that are posted almost daily in our country through criminal activities? Yet we have joined the chorus of other Kenyans in condemning the terrorists; are you indeed not one! 

We need self-governance to secure and promote true peace in our environments. There will be so many proposals and mechanisms that will be designed towards more security and peace. While we encourage and support these processes our take is that in order to achieve greater heights of a peaceful country and habitation we have all to be involved at a personal level in what is called personal responsibility which is the basis of good governance in any society.

God Bless our beloved country Kenya!

 

From the Desk of Justice and Peace AMECEA

By Fr. Jude WAWERU

AMECEA Justice and Peace Coordinator