Attacks by masked gunmen on church congregations in Kenya have prompted the country’s Catholic bishops to urge the government to improve security measures.
The July 1 violence at Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Cathedral and the Protestant Africa Inland Church left at least 17 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Witnesses said up to seven attackers used firearms and lobbed hand grenades as worshippers prayed during morning services.
Two of those killed were police officers standing guard over one of the churches.
“These unjustifiable acts of violence being continuously meted out on Kenyans, including women and children, have not only resulted in the loss of innocent lives but also created a sense of insecurity among Christians and all peace-loving Kenyans,” the bishops said.
They said they continued to believe the attacks on churches were not part of a religious war even though they were carried out on Christian communities.
“We call on all Kenyans to remain vigilant and co-operate with the security agencies and other authorities to ensure their security is guaranteed, we remind them that fighting terrorism, extremism and insecurity is not just for the security agencies but the duty of each and every Kenyan because terrorists and criminals operate amongst us,” the statement added.
The British Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Africa, in an interview with Vatican Radio, also condemned the attacks as “completely and totally unacceptable”.
The under-secretary, Henry Bellingham, was in Rome for a conference on Somalia, which is seeking to promote stability in that country and a decrease in the violence which has spiraled across the border with neighbouring Kenya.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga condemned the attacks, which he said were designed to spark conflict between Muslims and Christians.
“Churches are being attacked and the inference here is that Muslims are attacking so that Christians can begin to fight Muslims…. We are more intelligent than that,” he said.
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