Going Down the Memory Lane of Series of Terror Attacks in Kenya
By Amina Faki
“Refugees are men, women, and children caught in the fury of war, or the cross hairs of persecution. Far from being terrorists, they are often the victims of terrorism. Targeting the weakest does not show strength” Angelina Jolie
It all started as an act of Kindness in July 1976 when Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta allowed an Israel Defense Forces task force to cross the Kenyan airspace and refuel at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on its way to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.
Israel required help from the East African country for the success of its Operation Entebbe raid to extract people from a hostage crisis.
Perceived as Western interest and Israeli support, this incident led to anger from Islamic extremist, which led to series of terrorist attack in the country.
Below is a chain of terrorist attacks in the country that left many killed, many wounded and more left homeless;
2017: Northern Parts of Kenya
In recent weeks of May, the East African nation has lost 20 officers in various attacks, mostly on deserted roads in the vast northern region bordering Somalia, in which the militants used Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
2015: Garissa attack
In April 2015, gunmen stormed the Garissa University College killing almost 150 people and wounding several. The attackers claimed to be from the Al-Shabaab militant group and indicated that they were retaliating over non-Muslims occupying Muslim territory. The militants took several students hostage, freeing Muslims but withholding Christians. Over 500 students were still unaccounted for.
2014: Mpeketoni attacks
Between 15 June and 17 June 2014, more than 60 people were killed in attacks in and near Mpeketoni, Lamu County. The Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility, but the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta asserted that the attacks were organized by local politicians with ties to a network of gangs. Correspondents from the area suggested that the attacks may have been motivated by ethnic or religious hatred, or revenge for land grabbing.
2013: Westgate Mall attack
The events took place on 21st September 2013 when Al-Shabaab associated gunmen targeted and shot customers at Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall. At least 67 people were killed in the attack and left many wounded.
2012: Al-Shabaab attacks
In October 2011, a coordinated operation between the Somali military and the Kenyan military began against the Al-Shabaab group of insurgents in southern Somalia. The mission was officially led by the Somali army, with the Kenyan forces providing a support role. Since then, a series of explosions have rocked various areas in Kenya, bombings which are believed to have been retaliatory attacks by Al-Shabaab. In early June 2012, Kenyan forces were formally integrated into AMISOM.
According to US Embassy in the past 2011/2012, there have been at least 17 attacks involving grenades or explosive devices in Kenya. At least 48 people died in these attacks, and around 200 people were injured. Nine of these attacks occurred in North Eastern Province, including locations in Dadaab, Wajir, and Garissa. Four attacks occurred in Nairobi, and four in Mombasa. Targets included police stations and police vehicles, nightclubs and bars, churches, a religious gathering, a downtown building of small shops, and a bus station. A more recent attack involved two simultaneous assaults on churches in Garissa on 1 July 2012. In this attack, 17 people were killed and about 50 people were injured.
2002: Kikambala Hotel Bombing and Arkia Airlines missile attack in Mombasa
On 28 November 2002, two missiles were fired at an Israeli passenger airliner as it took off from Mombasa airport but missed. Subsequently, there was an attack on the Kikambala Hotel when it was receiving Israeli tourists.
The hotel blast occurred just after some 60 visitors had checked into the hotel, all of them from Israel, hotel officials said. 13 were killed and 80 injured. Ten Kenyans died, nine of whom were employed by the hotel, most of them were said to be traditional dancers who came to welcome the 140 guests arriving from Israel by state-chartered jet and three Israelis, two of whom were children. Almost simultaneously, two shoulder-launched Strela-2(SA-7) surface-to-air missiles were fired at another chartered Boeing 257 airliner owned by Israel-based Arkia Airlines as it took off from Moi International Airport.
1998: United States Embassy Bombings
On 7 August, between 10:30 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. local time, suicide bombers in trucks laden with explosives parked outside the embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, and almost simultaneously detonated. 213 people were killed in the Nairobi blast, while 11 were killed i