President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the nation following the terror
attack on innocent Kenyans at the Westgate Mall in Westlands. With the
president are the Director of NSIS Director Gen. Gachangi and the
cabinet secretary for interior Joseph Ole Lenku.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
President Uhuru Kenyatta lost close family members in Saturday’s Westgate mall terror attack.
The President’s relatives were among 39 innocent Kenyans who died and another 150 injured during the attack.
In
a televised address to the nation, the President said, “I know how you
feel, having also personally lost very close family members. I ask God
to give all of us comfort as we confront this tragedy.”
He
saluted the volunteer’s conscientious and selfless acts of solidarity
in response to the terrorist attack saying the courage and sympathy
saved lives and reassured countless people.
He added,
“The way we lead our lives; in freedom, openness, unity and
consideration for each other represents our victory over all those who
wish us ill. We are as brave and invincible as the lions on our Coat of
Arms.”
The President urged Kenyans to volunteer any relevant information on the attack to the authorities for action.
“Let us ashame the Devil and his works by demonstrating our timeless values of love, compassion and solidarity.” He added.
President
Kenyatta assured that the perpetrators will be hunted down wherever
they escaped to and punished for the heinous crime.
He reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to defend the nation from internal as well as external aggressors.
President
Kenyatta said, “We have overcome terrorist attacks before. In fact, we
have fought courageously and defeated them within and outside our
borders. We will defeat them again. Terrorism in and of itself, is the
philosophy of cowards.”
The president said the
country’s security forces are conducting a multi-agency response to the
attack and have secured Westgate Mall. The security agencies will also
be decisive in their response to any threats, he added.
“They
must and will do this to demonstrate our constitution's categorical
guarantee of Kenyans' indefeasible rights to life and property” he said.
The President said despicable perpetrators of the
cowardly act will not succeed in their desperate moves to intimidate,
divide and course despondency among Kenyans.
“They
would like us to retreat into a closed, fearful and fractured society
where trust, unity and enterprise are difficult to muster” he added.
The
President said with the values of solidarity and love for homeland,
Kenyans will remain united in defense of the rights to decide their
destiny as codified in the Constitution.
The
President commended all volunteers for giving first-aid, transporting
the injured to hospital, donating blood, locating and contacting loved
ones and making it easy for rescue, medical and security personnel to do
their work.
President Kenyatta said, “The people of
Kenya have been wonderful, as always. I salute your conscientious and
selfless acts of solidarity in response to the terrorist attack. Your
courage and sympathy saved lives and reassured countless people.”
He
also appreciated volunteers who have used media to rally help of all
kinds, condole with and comfort the affected. He thanked the citizens
for being responsible by desisting from spreading panic and despondency.
The president pledged Government support to the
affected families and wished the injured quick recovery from the
physical and other shocks arising from the attack.