Diaspora prayers for Westgate terror attack

By JOSEPHAT SIROR

FINLAND: Kenyans in Finland converged on Sunday to offer special prayers to the victims of Westgate terror attack.

The service which was held at Vantaa International Fellowship church brought together Kenya´s diaspora and foreign friends.

Charles Ng'iendo, an official representing Kenyans urged compatriots to pray for the country, now facing terror threats. "Let us continuously pray for peace, love and unity at all times. Let us all seek God for ONE Nation,’’ said Mr Ngiendo in a post.

Earlier in the week, a lobby group representing Kenyans condemned the heinous terror attack that crippled operations in Nairobi’s busy upmarket at the weekend.

The group termed as inhumane act of terrorism regretting that it has dealt a blow to the country’s internal peace and image abroad. “Kenya community in Finland is deeply concerned and disturbed by this inhumane terrorism act,” said the statement by Kenya Finnish Society (Kenfins).

They also hailed indefatigable efforts of the soldiers back home who have been involved in the four-day rescue operation. “It is absolutely terrifying and a real blow to our internal peace and external image as a nation but we congratulate security forces for their work,” said Mr David Okello, Kenfin’s executive director.

The society also conveyed messages of condolescenses to the victims of terror. But they left veiled warning to development partners against travel advisories to which Finland itself has already issued one following Westgate attack.

”I wish to urge all our partners to desist from issuing travel advisory and bans because this is not the right time to do so,” said the director.

The Finnish Foreign ministry on Sunday published travel warning to Kenya citing increased tensions in Somalia. “Finns in Kenya are advised to avoid busy areas, remain alert and to follow the news media to stay abreast of developments,” reads the warning quoted by national broadcasting channel.

The ban also cautions its citizens against travelling to coastal areas within 150km of the Somali border, with the exception of the island of Lamu, and to inland areas within 60km of the frontier.

The warning directly follows the attack in Westgate, Nairobi where Finnish government has an embassy not so far from the scene of terror. It was not clear however whether Finnish citizens could have been caught in the daylight terror attack.

However, news fast spread in the widely read Nordic tabloids of speculation that a Finn might have been part of the foreign militants.

Kenya’s foreign secretary, Ms Amina Abdalla singled out Britain and America as origin of two or three militants involved in the attack. The Westgate terror death toll rose by yesterday to over 70 lives after three Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers succumbed to injuries. The attack maimed hundreds, still nursing wounds in various hospitals.