A storm of violence has been occurring recently in the coastal towns of Kenya, and many of those whom were targeted, injured, or killed were Christians.
Most of the attacks were carried out by Islamic militant group al-Shabaab, which is known to have a link with al-Qaeda. The group’s most recent attack occurred on July 6 in a town called Hindi, during which 22 people were killed. The attack was the second one “in the region in less than three weeks,” reported The Wall Street Journal.
Al-Shabaab states that its purpose for all of the violence is in hopes to free its imprisoned members, and in opposition to the Kenyan troops occupying Somalia and “alleged persecution of Muslims in Kenya,” said the report.
An al-Shabaab spokesman told The Wall Street Journal, “You will not sleep peacefully while you are killing the Muslim people in Somalia.”
However, witnesses of the attack in Hindi said that the gunmen were targeting Christians.
Christians were also targeted in a recent attack in the town of Mpeketoni in mid-June. The Morning Star News reported that gunmen entered the town in two minibuses and two pick-up trucks, attacking a gas station and a police station. Nine people were killed when the gunmen opened fire in a public area in which people gathered to watch a World Cup soccer game together. Altogether, 57 people were reported to have been killed, six of which were children of church pastors.
Pastors told the Morning Star News that only 5 percent of the residents of Mpeketoni are Muslim, and that most of the victims of the attack were Christians.
“They came to our house at around 8pm and asked us in Swahili whether we were Muslims. My husband told them we were Christians and they shot him in the head and chest,” BBC News quoted Mpeketoni resident Anne Gathigi.
Violence also occurred in late March in a church at Mombasa County. Gunmen opened fire at a Sunday morning service, killing at least seven and many others injured.
Despite the violent chaos, many Christians have been showing strength and courage. Bishop Wilfred Lai, the senior pastor of Redeemed Gospel Church, is one example.
“We as the body of Christ in the coastal region of Kenya will stand firm in spite of the cruel act of terrorism,” he was quoted saying in the Morning Star News.
However, Christians will need to continue to take precautionary measures, as al-Shabaab does not intend to end the violence any time soon.
As Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, told Reuters, “Our operations in Kenya will continue.”
