Kenyans living abroad on Sunday joined their compatriots back at home in offering prayers for the speedy resolution of the stand-off between the Kenyan security forces and terrorists who were still holding people hostage at the Westgate Mall in Westlands, Nairobi.
From Seattle, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts, from St. Louis, Missouri to Baltimore, Maryland, Kenyans congregated in their places of worship to pray for the country they love even though they live far away.
“I’m sad and angry at what a few people acting in the name of God have been able to subject to the whole nation to. Right now, because we are far way, the best we can do is just pray for our country and for souls of those who have lost their lives”. John Okello, a Kenyan resident of Seattle, Washington told the Nation on phone.
John was among hundreds of Kenyans living in Seattle who held an evening long vigil to mourn those who lost their lives in the attack. In the State of Delaware, members of the Brook church expressed shock and disbelief at the brutal attack on innocent people in the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi over the weekend. “
I woke up on Saturday morning and when I turned on my computer and TV set, there were all these images of the terror that was going at the Mall. I felt very sad that people could kill innocent shoppers in a mall indiscriminately”. Said Pastor Danvas Makori.
In the last three days, Kenyans living abroad just like their fellow Kenyans at home have been glued on TV sets and social media keenly following what has been going on at the Westgate mall in what has definitely turned out to be one of the most difficult weekends for Kenya and Kenyans in Diaspora.
Many have however complained that there were no centers where they could go and provide their humanitarian support.
Because many embassies and consulate do not currently have substantive government appointees following the recent recall of ambassadors and high commissions, there lack of coordination of humanitarian efforts in the Diaspora.
“We would like to request the government or any other agency currently coordinating humanitarian activities to reach out to the Diaspora because most Kenyans living abroad want to help but they don’t know how”. Said Pastor Danvas Makori.
Source-Nation
Diaspora United for Kenya: Prayers for hostage at Westgate Mall
