Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is blaming local leaders for recent acts of violence against non-Muslim communities in Kenya. In the past two days, there have been over 60 deaths in the coastal communities of Lamu, Majembeni, and Mpeketoni.
The Islamic-extremist group, Al-Shabab, from Somalia, has admitted to killing Christians and government workers in these areas in Kenya. Kenyatta, however, refuses to give the group full credit for the attacks. He says that some responsibility must be placed on his own local leaders. He believes the leaders knew beforehand that the attacks were a threat, but did not carry out preventative measures. Kenyatta has since suspended some officials.
On Tuesday morning, Kenyatta made a public, televised address where he revealed the attacks were ethnically motivated. According to him, some local leaders and extremists in this group adopt the belief of an ethnic hierarchy within Kenya, which he strictly opposes. Al-Shabab’s signature means of attack is to burn down homes, repeatedly shoot victims in their heads, and slit throats of oftentimes defenseless people.
The violent attacks are negatively impacting the country in multiple ways. The citizens are concerned for their safety, and the tourism industry is taking a major hit. Kenya was once a popular vacation destination because of its coastal cities. The attacks divide the country ethnically and racially, making it dangerous for tourists to vacation there.
New plans have been put in place in Lamu, including new officials and government, in an effort to crack down on the ensuing violence.
[Image: Maarufu Mohamed/Standard]