Kenya: Bishop believes churches were bombed for political, not religious reasons

Bishop Paul Darmanin

Following the bombing of two churches in Garissa, including the Catholic Cathedral, the local bishop, Mgr Paul Darmanin said he thought the motivation for the attacks was political, not religious. "I do not think it is a religious problem but a reaction to embarrass the government in Nairobi for what the Kenyan army is doing in Somalia against the Shabaab" Bishop Darmanin said.

On Sunday, 1 July, armed men, probably from the Islamic fundamentalist Somali Shabaab attacked the two churches. Mgr Darmanin said: "On 1 July, around 10.30am, local time, two hand grenades were thrown at the church of Our Lady of Consolation, only one exploded just in front of the building, not inside, causing some slight injuries.

At the African Inland Church the attack was terrible. The assailants, after killing two soldiers who stood guard at the place of worship, threw some hand grenades into the building where the faithful gathered for church service. The aim was to make them escape outside, where they were hit with the AK-47 taken from the soldiers. It was a well organized attack in which at least 16 people died and several were seriously wounded."

The Bishop believes the motivation was purely political. He said: "The Shabaab had threatened reprisals for operations carried out since October 2011 by the Kenyan army in Somalia. Now that the army of Nairobi has increased the pressure on Kismayo, their last stronghold in south

"Garissa is not far from the border with Somalia. The border is easily crossed even though the government is doing its best to control it. The churches are attacked because they are 'soft targets'. In addition, the local population is almost entirely Muslim, Christians are Kenyans from other parts of the country, regarded as foreigners by at least a portion of the native population. "

Bishop Darmanin asked everyone to pray for peace in the country.

Source: Fides