Hiiraan Online
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
NAIROBI (HOL) ----Somalis in Kenya are marking the second anniversary since gunmen have attacked the upscale Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital Tuesday, with hundreds marched through the Somali-dominant Eastleigh suburb.
The attack has killed at least 67 people during the siege which lasted four days. The Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab group has claimed the responsibility for the attack which is said was carried out in retaliation for Kenya’s operation in Somalia.
Kenya has sent troops to Somalia after spate of attack in which foreign tourists were abducted. The government has blamed Al-Shabab for the responsibility of attacks.
As Kenyans have marked the anniversary, the Somali community in Nairobi has held its own anniversary at the Eastleigh Primary School in solidarity with their fellow Kenyans who have experienced ‘horrific’ days during the mall siege.
Yusuf Hassan, the Kamukunji constituency MP who delivered a sobering speech at anniversary condoled Kenyans and East Africans as a whole for the loss of ‘innocent’ lives during the ‘horrible’ mall attack.
He urged Somalis in Kamukunji constituency to cooperate with the Kenyan security forces to prevent insecurity and further terrorist attacks.
The anniversary follows the reopening of the refurbished Westgate mall on Monday with a candle-lit vigil was held inside the shopping center under a tight security.
During the anniversary civilians were allowed to make their shopping inside the mall, however, local media reported that many Kenyans have shunned attending the anniversary to avoid recalling the ‘shocking’ memories from the attack two years ago.
Meanwhile, Kenyan government has vowed it would fight terrorism to keep the East African economic hub safe from terror attacks by the Al-Shabab group which is based in the neighbouring Somalia.
Al-Shabab vowed it would continue attacks in Kenya as long as Kenyan forces are still operating inside Somalia.
KDF forces have ousted militants from key towns since they invaded Somalia including the lucrative port city of Kismayo where Al-Shabab has once collected heavy taxes from commercial ships and businesses to fund its deadly insurgency in the horn of Africa nation.