Sunday, September 29, 2013

Time to move on after mall attack – Kidero

Kidero who shopped with his wife Susan at Nakumatt Ukay right next to Westgate said the most important thing is for Kenyans to move on/COURTESY
Kidero who shopped with his wife Susan at Nakumatt Ukay right next to Westgate said the most important thing is for Kenyans to move on/COURTESY
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 29 – Kenyans were on Sunday urged to resume their normal lives following the September 21 attack at the Westgate mall.
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero who shopped with his wife Susan at Nakumatt Ukay – right next to Westgate – said the most important thing is for Kenyans to move on despite the fear and big losses suffered.
“As difficult as it is, we must get back to normal life. That is the only way we will show the people who attacked us that they have not dented and they have no capacity of denting our indomitable, pioneering, hardworking, resolute and positive Kenyan spirit,” he urged.
Kidero said as everyone was hurting and in shock, no one should allow the attack to continue to deter the goals and work ahead.
He further called for patience over the attack at the mall that so far had claimed 67 lives and injured dozens of others.
While he urged people to shun speculation over the attack, he said investigations are ongoing and once completed Kenyans will be furnished with the findings.
“During this time when people are hurt, a lot of things will be said, but let us give the security forces the opportunity to investigate and come to a conclusion which will enable them apprehend the perpetrators and punish them. Somebody will be responsible and the investigations will reveal. Let’s not speculate at this time or throw blame,” he pleaded.
Meanwhile, security at the Westgate mall remained tight even as people were allowed to pick their cars.
However, they had to present papers to prove ownership.
Outside the Westgate mall, Nakumatt staff held special prayers in remembrance of the 67 people who died in the attack.
According to Daniel Macharia, an employee of Nakumatt, the store lost three employees in the attack.
“We have set up a place where have set candles in remembrance of the people who perished and those injured. This is to console them and show the world that we are surely not going to relent but we are going to stand up and continue moving one and we are one,” he said.
Despite the loss of 67 people, Macharia believes Kenya conquered, as most of the people in the mall came out alive.
“We don’t give a chance to the devil. This service is to praise the Lord because of what he did. We believe the way the attack was planned was to make everything perish. But God made a way for so many people to be evacuated,” he asserted.
Inside the Westgate mall, teams of security officers including investigators and rescuers were going on with their probe.

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