 Buildings reduced to rabble by the blast At exactly 10.37 am on the 7th of August 1998, a massive explosion rocked the U.S. Embassy building in Nairobi killing over 200 Kenyans and maiming over 4000 others. The scene after the blast was appalling as people ran and screamed trying to shield themselves from falling glass and blocks. The country was held at ransom by the pain caused by this horrific attack on its citizens.
As the years have passed on and the country has marked anniversary after anniversary of this catastrophic event, several issues of concern have emerged among Kenyans. Amid the sorrow and prayers, victims are also voicing their anger - not just at the terrorists but at the U.S. and Kenyan governments, which they accuse of inadequate compensation and lack of support in rebuilding their lives.
Many are also questioning the reliability of the country’s security forces to prevent a future attack on its citizens. This concern has especially been highlighted by recent reports of terror suspect Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, eluding the police in Malindi. Critics point out that Kenya still lacks anti-terrorism legislation - a proposed law was shot down by parliament in 2003 over claims that it would violate constitutional and human rights. The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (APTU) was set up in 2003 to boost anti-terrorism efforts. But the special police unit has come under criticism from various quarters, most recently in the week before the anniversary of the bombing with the search for Fazul.
The concern for Human Rights violation is also a major issue in trying to deal with the terrorism attack. Many have condemned the tactics being used to fight terrorism arguing that they are infringing on human rights especially of the Muslim community. Human rights groups, political and religious leaders continue to put pressure on the government to end what they say is unwarranted harassment of innocent people by the security forces.
In light of these concerns and more, the question begs: are we as Kenyans dealing with the "war on terror" in the best way? What can be done to address these concerns in a just way? But even as we seek solutions to these issues, we must realize that unity for us as Kenyans is paramount in healing the physical and psychological scars of the attack and moving on to a more prosperous Kenya.
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