The Westgate Mall
attack was as senseless and barbaric as the one of 15 years ago, the US Embassy
Nairobi bombing of August, 7th 1998. The heinous Saturday, September
21st attack, left behind immense loses for the country. 67 innocent
people were confirmed killed, some 240 injured and properties valued at billions
of Kenya shillings destroyed or looted
Meantime the residents
in the North Eastern Counties such as Mandera, Wajir and Garissa are continuing
to experience heightened bombings at public places and attacks on police
posts.
As many people of all nationalities
come to terms with the realities of the senseless losses or injuries of their
loved ones, may God the Almighty grant those injured quick recoveries and those
bereaved strength and comfort to overcome their grief and pain.
The Westgate attack savage
as it was, ironically brought definitive lessons and the best out of Kenyans.
The Nation’s eyes are focused on the horizon. Never bet against the spirit,
resilience, patriotism, unity, generosity, bravery and reliability of Kenyans
and their international friends. Everywhere the feelings are what a US Second
World War General, McArthur called, Duty, Honour, Country and KDF as Country,
Mission, Team, Self.
Following the attack
on the Shopping Mall, people of all walks of life, myself included, poured in
overwhelming with blood donations, financial, food, water and all other kinds
of contributions volunteering so much so that President Uhuru Kenyatta
emotionally described the public response as “nothing short of wonderful”.
Nation’s
Laughter
These few lines titled
“The Nation’s Laughter”, which I wrote many years back as a young Air Force
officer could as well best describe the courage demonstrated by the members of
KDF, the National Police Service and even some heroic members of the public
including Kenya Red Cross volunteers on 21st September.
“I belief in my
country, one of God’s greatest prize of creation. Personal gain is least of my
priorities, public service is a great gift, most fulfilling of all. In sleep, I
am always in my boots. Hardly do I glance at beauty. For it takes me away from
duty, Kenya Hakuna Matata.
If a country is worth
living, it is worth loving, defending and dying for. If I perish in the line of
duty, do not cry at my burial. Just take care
of my family. And let the Nation’s laughter endure across oceans for ever. Where
ever the morning dew the sunlight finds”.
In the meantime
serious questions are piling up. Did the terrorists escape? With hindsight,
what have we not done right for this massacre to happen in the capital city of
Nairobi, undetected in advance by our supposedly alert National Intelligence
Machinery? What can be done now to avoid any future similar or even more
devastating incidents?
Preparation,
More Preparations
There are no perfect
answers to all questions. No silver bullets. Terrorism has existed for 2,000
years. It is as old as human’s willingness to use violence to achieve political
ends. The scourge of terrorism has social and psychological motivation and
underpinnings. However, first as experts and the parliamentary committees
examine certain concerned matters and also determine where do the buck stops,
the role of the respective county Governments in public safety and security
need to be enhanced from the Ward
Administrators to the Governors to complement those of the National Security
Agencies.
All the 47 counties
can benefit from establishing Offices for Emergencies, Planning, and Management
and Coordination (OE-PMC), well resourced, well staffed as places of caring for
the public in the totality of their daily lives and businesses. The themes here
are preparation, preparation, more preparations and over deliveries of public
charter visions. The despicable crime of terrorism visited upon Westgate not
withstanding, Kenyans are ever ‘unbowed’ and never bowing to evil whatever it
is nature or origin.
As for Al Shabaab, it
is simply a by-product of the failed State of their country. Their antidote is
political and economic and reverse engineering of their terrorism. The
international community should continue helping generously in every kind
possible the Federal and Regional States Authorities in Somalia to be strong,
self-sustaining and working again for the dignity and prosperity of their long
suffering peoples.
In meantime, Al
Shabaab is bitter. Very angry for the loss of Kismayu Port. In Westgate they
have tested blood. They have done dress rehearsal for bigger prize. Our cities
maybe under serious threats before things become better. Enemy of security is
‘island of peace’ complacencies. We need therefore, to be red alert
countrywide.
Writer is a social commentator.