KENYA PRAYS FOR BABY SATRIN

#BULLETBABY

“o God; to whom all things grow, and by whom they are strengthened when grown, stretch forth your hand upon your servant who is sick at a tender age: that recovering the vigor of health, he may arrive at the fullness of year, and always give to you  a faithful and grateful service all the days of his life. Amen”

Once again, moths after the Westgate terror attack; the nation is united in prayers-towards baby Satrin Osinya. The baby with terrorist’s bullet in head landed in Nairobi; with 12 neurosurgeons already ready to examine him.

The terrorist bullet that killed baby Satrin’s mother in church and spared him-just two months to his first birthday-is lodged dangerously in his head.

The baby’s mother’s life was ended while she was shielding him-exiting her body and buried itself in his head.

On social media; many took to express their views with prayer groups already on Facebook; one wrote: “I am in tears now, may God save this boy.” On twitter; the anger was towards the government laxity to insecurity on the Likoni church terror attack:

“Tears are still flowing as I read this for sure what does an innocent one year old have to do with this? For how long shall this go on? Its high time government mercilessly rained on these heartless hooligans and ensured they face wrath of the law. This can’t go on anymore!”

Kenya now stands with the other victims and baby Satrin in deep prayers.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso.

RIVERWOOD’S MOVIE VERSION OF THE WESTGATE SHOPPING MALL ATTACK

Facebook users reacted to this:

Willies Shylock: our hearts are healing and you guys are reminding us of the past.

Millie Malkia: this is what makes me #proud to be Kenyan! Great minds.

Valencia Juma: heal the world!

Nixon Opanga: made in Kenya for Kenyans; let them make good money and earn a living.

Felix Kyallo Kamenzi: enterprising Kenyans…it was expected.

Chris Oduma: Kenyans don’t stop to amaze us. I am proud to be one.

Onyango Richard: people are watching it in their houses and you are saying it shouldn’t be released?

Shi Kamande: only in Kenya

Zedrique Brimas: with the heavy taxation. Kenyans will require creative minds to earn a living.

Photo credits: Up magazine Kenya 

KTN UNMASKS THE WESTAGATE TERROR ATTACK/ HOW TERRORIST ATTACK WAS EXECUTED

MERCHANTS OF DEATH

Last week, Friday October , 18^th 2013; like the rest of my fellow Kenyan citizens looking forward to quench my thirst on what really happened at Westgate, I (the writer) joined KTN investigation team of Mohammed Ali and John Allan Namu. I watched as they premiered the startling details of what the public has never known about the Westgate Mall attack.

Kenyans took to the social Medias after watching the exclusive footage, which in itself contradicts almost everything that the Government has been telling the public.

The facts unveiled how the Westgate terror plot was developing fast far away in Somalia and in the Kakuma Refugee Camp; the biggest one in the world and one established in 1992 to serve Sudanese refugees.

The iconic Westgate Mall was the centerpiece of their plan. The mall insured through UK’s Lloyd’s for about sh 6.6. Billion, was constructed several wall thick with the ability to withstand heavy bombardment.

The clip shows Kenyan Alakene; one of the terrorists who gave a child a chocolate bar after the young boy told him that “ he is a very bad man” and who is captured by CCTV cameras escorting children out of the mall.

The CCTV cameras go ahead to reveal misunderstandings between different security agencies. The Recce Squad was being led by Inspector James Maamri. When KDF shot at them, the G.S.U men scampered for safety and then an exchange of words and pointing of guns between members of the Police forces most elite unit, Recce Squad, and its equal in the military, Rangers Strike Force, took place. The following is a transcribed excerpt from the ugly exchange between the military and police:

“Stop talking too much (keep your mouth shut);” one soldiers shouts at a GSU man who replies with the abuse, “your mother.” In the footage, an angry GSU officer curses, “the military shot us! F**** them.”

It’s apparently during this confrontation that constable Martin Kithinji was shot dead and another GSU man shot on the leg.

The footage goes ahead to show the terrorists in calm and relaxed mood; and even took time to pray in the back room of the Nakumatt store. It looks like a waiting game situation, with the real drama unfolding on the outside.

The clips go ahead to contradict the Government that had maintained the terrorists were hiding hostages. The four men brandishing AK-47 guns go on a firing spree-firing anyone on sight and panic engulfs the mall.

Then the big question of who was looting and who drank beer at the joints gets complicated. Soldiers are caught picking snacks and walking into Nakumatt, guns hanging by their sides, and then leaving with handful of paper bags.

With the dust setting on Westgate, the KTN investigations have revealed so many questions yet very few answers; poor response to terror attack and disharmony in the security agencies’’ fight to recapture Westgate.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso

#KTN’S EXPOSEE ON WESTGATE MALL ATTACK DEPICTS A GOVERNMENT THAT DOESN’T TRUST US WITH THE TRUTH

MERCHANTS OF DEATH

I watched as our Shujaas; KTN’S Mohammed Ali (Jicho Pevu) and John Allan Namu (Inside Story) gave us a recount of how the terrorists struck Westgate on that fateful day-over midday coffes, cooking competitions and immunization drives- indiscriminate bullets ripped through more than flesh, they cut to the core of an already troubled Kenyan psyche.

What followed was a siege of our collective conscience by misinformation and divisiveness among our forces and the government charged with protecting us.

That stake in the heart for me was what I watched on Jicho pevu and The Inside Story: military looting, boozing it up in Art Caffe, divided security agents and mass theories of conspiracy.

I must hear their part of the story before I condemn them. Yet again, were all these the deep-rooted seed of corruptions coming into the full bloom for the world to see.

How secure are we is the big question? Even if all parties are eventually cleared of any wrong doing, our confidence remains shaken to its core without a doubt. The insinuation caught on the CCTV Cameras, in this case, was enough to cast a doubt.

Meanwhile, deep down we all know this cycle continue. I am fairly convinced and agree with Mohammed Ali that we will never know the full story; not because the information is not there; but because the government doesn’t trust us with it.

And this is what, to be honest, scares me more than the terrorists. What we should be doing is taking a clinical look at this matter; asking what we should do to avoid a repeat.

A supposed democratic government that exists under a constant cycle of cover-up and lies means we are left trusting those who pupport to be the servants of the people. This where the real fear really breeds.

Make no mistake. We are at war! Our intelligence and disciplined forces have their job well cut out. Watch the clips again from KTN. Learn from mistakes, yes and avoid killing the messenger. But rise up and fight on without turning anger inwards.

As far as making sense of tragedy goes; it comes down to choice. In the end; we don’t really know why “Cain iced his brother Abel”. We can only imagine evil was brought into the world to show us the fragility of life and the duality of our existence- in the way that you need dark to know light. Love does win in the end, if you make room for it.

WE ARE AT WAR AGAINST ONE COMMON ENEMY. # WE ARE ONE ARMY.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso 

WESTGATE MALL ATTACK: REMEMBERING POET KOFFI AWOONOR

We are out of words so be borrow a few from the fallen Ghanaian poet Kofi Awoonor. From his poem Song of Sorrow. #weareone 

Something has happened to me
The things so great that I cannot weep; 
I have no sons to fire the gun when I die
And no daughter to wail when I close my mouth
I have wandered on the wilderness
The great wilderness men call life
The rain has beaten me, 
And the sharp stumps cut as keen as knives
I shall go beyond and rest.
I have no kin and no brother, 
Death has made war upon our house