Christians defy fear, throng churches for Easter service amid tight security

Home and safe: Celestine Cherotich (in white), a second year Information Science student at Garissa University College gets a hug from sister Vivian Sawe on arrival in Eldoret on April 5, 2015. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• At the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi, John Cardinal Njue said the fight against terrorism should begin with getting rid of corruption. He said corruption had led to several ills, among them people not being accountable and responsible in their work.
• He also urged Muslim preachers to review their teachings.
• Rev Wachianga faulted President Kenyatta’s directive that police recruits who were picked in controversial circumstances join Kiganjo Police Training College. He said it was a betrayal of his campaign against corruption.

By NATION TEAM
More by this Author

Kenyans Sunday flocked churches to pray for peace and unity in the wake of the killing of 148 people in a terrorist attack at the Garissa University College.

Security was tight at the places of worship as General Service Unit officers and their National Police Service counterparts kept vigil.

At the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi, John Cardinal Njue said the fight against terrorism should begin with getting rid of corruption. He said corruption had led to several ills, among them people not being accountable and responsible in their work.

“Kenyans have been rendered desperate because of people wanting to make quick money at the expense of service provision,” he said and urged those implicated in corruption to step aside and allow investigation into their conduct.

Cardinal Njue said it was time for Christians across the country to pray for the faithful who undergo persecution because of their faith.

“Let us all pray for the souls of those who died in Garissa and for the quick recovery of those who were injured.

“We must also not forget the families of the students who lost their lives. This is a truly difficult time for them,” he said during the mass that was heavily guarded by officers from the General Service Unit and regular police.

He urged Christians to use the Easter holiday to come back to the way of the cross and shun corruption.

“I want to humbly request all of us to bear with one another, irrespective of our religion and positions in the society,” he said.

REPORT SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE

Across the road, at All Saints Cathedral, Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Eliud Wabukala urged Kenyans to join the efforts to end terrorist attacks by reporting suspicious people to the police. He also urged Muslim preachers to review their teachings.

“Any patriotic Kenyan should participate in ending this vice and we should not allow ourselves to be used by terrorists to take our fellow Kenyans. Let’s stop internal collaborations with terrorists and be patriotic.

“There is a need for religious leaders in the Muslim faith to re-examine the teachings so that they are able to help us in nurturing good young people who can respect life, people who can work together just as our faith teaches us to love one another and to work together,” he said.

At the Consolata Shrine in Westlands, Fr Daniel Bertea led worshippers in observing a moment of silence in remembrance of those who died in last week’s college attack.
Fr Bertea urged the worshippers to remain peaceful and to use the theme of Easter as a reason to resist harbouring hate in their hearts.

Former President Mwai Kibaki joined thousands of faithful to celebrate an Easter-themed Sunday mass.

In Mombasa, Catholic Archbishop Martin Kivuva said: “Al-Shabaab (terrorists) are amongst us. They recruit from us. They are our children, brothers and friends. We have to take responsibility of our security by alerting security agents,” he said in his homily at Our Lady of Fatima, Kongowea Parish.

He asked those entrusted with the safety of Kenyans to be patriotic.“You are given something small and you stand watching evil eat into our people. You keep quiet as evil people among us or from outside plan and kill innocent citizens. You have to take charge of your assignments and do it well,” he said.

In Siaya and Busia, Rev Kenneth Wachianga (ACK Diocese of Maseno West) and Bishop George Odhiambo of Christian Discipleship Centre called for a change in strategy in the war against terrorism by arresting terrorists’ sympathisers.

UNLAWFUL

Rev Wachianga faulted President Kenyatta’s directive that police recruits who were picked in controversial circumstances join Kiganjo Police Training College. He said it was a betrayal of his campaign against corruption.

“Kenyans know that the entire recruitment was put on hold by the courts. Ordering its resumption is unlawful. I do not support this decision,” he said.
Bishop Odhiambo asked the government to arrest and prosecute parents or guardians whose children are involved in terrorism.

He said there was a need to conduct a fresh recruitment of police officers to reduce corruption in the force.

“This is the only way that the President can demonstrate to Kenyans his devotion to the fight against corruption in the country,” he said.
Archibishop Zacchaeus Okoth of Kisumu said Christians were experiencing “tempting times” following terrorist attacks targeting them. He said the Garissa attack was preventable had the country acted on available intelligence.

“We are saddened as the Catholic Church and Christians in Kenya. It is time to join hands to fight terrorism in our country,” said the Archbishop, who is the chairman of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission.

“May God strengthen the families of the victims and give them courage.”

Africa Inland Church of Kenya (AIC) Presiding Bishop Silas Yego said Christians were fleeing areas prone to terrorist attacks.

“It looks like Christians are being targeted. Look at how many people were killed in Thursday attack, and who are they? We are really a worried lot,” he said.

EXPRESSED SHOCK

In Kirinyaga, Anglican Bishop Joseph Kibuchwa and his Kajiado counterpart, Rev Gadiel Lenin, expressed shock at the killing of innocent students, who were pursuing various courses to become responsible Kenyans and contribute to development.

“We call on all God-fearing worshippers to unite and pray for the country and the bereaved families,” said Bishop Kibuchwa.
Fr Ambrose Kimutai of Segemik Parish in Bomet said terrorism had reached alarming levels. He said it could be an economic war over resources and the discovery of oil in Kenya, but also attributed it to a supremacy battle between Arabs and Europeans.

“As Christians, we are not going to accept to be used as a tool to wage the supremacy war.

“It is not about terrorism, it is about the conflict over resources. Religion has been used as an excuse,” said Fr Kimutai.

By Stella Cherono, Ngare Kariuki, Nelcon Odhiambo, Linet Wafula, Lucas Barasa, Bernadine Mutanu, George Munene, Laban Robert and Anita Chepkoech