ANNAN CONDEMNS ATTACK

Chief mediator Kofi Annan and the European Union have condemned and called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of Sunday’s grenade attack at Uhuru Park, Nairobi.

In a statement, Dr Annan condemned the attack that killed six people and injured 104 others and called on the government to “find those responsible for this act of violence".

“The Panel urges all Kenyans to remain steadfast in rejecting any actions, which may jeopardise the legitimate aspirations of the people to participate in a credible and peaceful referendum,” read a statement issued in Nairobi on behalf of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities chaired by Mr Annan.

Terrorist attack

Separately, the EU member countries termed the Sunday incident a “terrorist attack”.

The head of the EU delegation in Kenya Eric van der Linden said member countries were shocked at the attack and called on the government to move fast and arrest those behind it.

“One may want to call it a terrorist attack. It was a cowardly act. We hope the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to book sooner than later,” he told journalists at a press conference.

Mr Linden appealed to politicians to stop stoking tensions in the country during campaigns for or against the proposed constitution, saying it could lead to more violence.

“Kenyans must respect each other’s opinion,” he said.

He defended Kenya’s security agencies against accusations that they are ill prepared and equipped to deal with such security challenges, saying “security apparatus all over the world occasionally get overwhelmed".

Mr Linden expressed hope that the attack would help speed up ongoing reforms within the security agencies.

And speaking at Kenyatta National Hospital where he had gone to console survivors of the attack, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka asked Kenyans to tolerate each others’ views on the proposed constitution.

Remain united

“We need to accommodate and respect each others views during the referendum period,’’ he said while calling for calm as the government investigates the attack at the crusade, which was preceded by a No campaign rally at Uhuru Park.

“Let us be calm, tolerant and remain united as people of one nation irrespective of social backgrounds and political affiliation,” said the VP, who was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Dr. Ludeki Chweya.

The views were echoed by two Muslim organisations that called on the government to crack down on politicians spreading hate speech during rallies for or against the proposed constitution.

“It is an act of cowardice for somebody to hurl a bomb at church leaders and politicians peacefully campaigning against the proposed new constitution, said the Kenya Muslim Youth Alliance Chief Executive Hassan Ole Naado in a statement.

The Muslim Human Rights Forum coordinator Al-Amin Kimathi also termed the attack as “heinous and senseless" and called on the government to arrest those behind it.

“No one can be persuaded nor dissuaded to join either side of the divide by such atrocity,” he stated.

Security agencies including the military are already investigating the incident during which three grenades exploded as Christian leaders were conducting the closing prayers after a No crusade at Uhuru Park.

The crusade had been organised by Christian religious groups opposed to the proposed constitution and was attended by thousands of people, including politicians led by higher Education minister William Ruto and MPs Kiema Kilonzo and Victor Munyaka.

The campaigns for or against the proposed constitution will culminate in a referendum on August 4 in which Kenyans will vote to either accept or reject the document.