Islamist militants fuel Christian persecution in Kenya, faith leaders say
Nairobi, KenyaRNS The majority of this East African country’s population is Christian, and churches are free to proliferate. It’s also not unusual to find preachers setting up loudspeakers to call people to Jesus. Christian literature is sold on the open street, and phrases like “Praise God” and “Amen” are part of the common greetings. But […]
Christmas holiday bus attacks in Kenya bring condemnation from Christian and Muslim leaders
Nairobi, KenyaRNS Christians travelling on buses for Christmas holiday close to the border with Somalia have recently become targets of the Somalian militant group, al-Shabaab. According to Christians in the region, traveling has become a risky endeavour, as the militants have seized buses on remote roads. Locals in the mostly Muslim communities in the area […]
Italian lawmaker sorry for calling hostage a “neo-terrorist”
Rome, ItalyAP A right-wing lawmaker apologised Thursday for calling a young Italian woman who converted to Islam while held hostage in Somalia a “neo-terrorist.” Alessandro Pagano of the anti-migrant League party said in a Facebook post that he had intended to criticize the government, not Silvia Romano, with his remarks in the lower house of […]
Bigotry mars return of Italy hostage who converted to Islam
Rome, ItalyAP A right-wing lawmaker in Italy was reprimanded Wednesday after he called a young Italian woman who converted to Islam while being held hostage in Somalia a “neo-terrorist.” Silvia Romano, 24, stepped off an Italian Government jet Sunday wearing the green hijab typical of Somali Muslim women. She reportedly told prosecutors in Rome she […]
Three Christian teachers killed in north-east Kenya, sources say
Nairobi, KenyaMorning Star News Somali al-Shabaab rebels killed three Christian teachers in north-east Kenya at about 2:30am on Monday, sources said. “One of the attackers said, ‘We cannot allow infidels to teach our children,’ and there and then fired at three teachers as I managed to escape through the window,” a surviving teacher told Morning […]
Al-Shabaab singles out 11 to kill in bus attack in northern Kenya; raises fear for Christians
World Watch Monitor Eleven people, almost all known to be Christians, were killed during an attack by the Islamist al-Shabaab group on a bus in Kenya’s border region with Somalia on 6th December. The militants forced the bus, owned by Medina Bus Company (which transports people and goods between Kenya’s capital Nairobi and north-east Kenya), to stop […]
GARISSA ATTACK ANNIVERSARY: “I WAS LAST TO COME OUT ALIVE” – KENYAN STUDENT TALKS ABOUT HER LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES
World Watch Monitor speaks with Reachel Ginkonyo who survived an attack targeting Christians on a university campus in north-east Kenya four years ago…
Surge in Somalis fleeing violence may lead to “catastrophe”, warns aid agency
Nairobi, KenyaThomson Reuters Foundation Conflict and insecurity forced 320,000 people in Somalia to flee their homes last year – a surge of almost 60 per cent on the previous year, a leading aid agency said on Thursday, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe if the trend continued. Somalia has been mired in conflict since 1991 and […]
Kenyan faith leaders condemn Nairobi attack as al-Shabaab takes responsibility
RNS Kenyan faith leaders have joined to condemn a terrorist attack in Nairobi that has left at least 21 people dead. Police say six armed militants stormed into Dusit D2, an upscale business complex in the typically calm Westlands area, on Tuesday. Flames and plumes of black smoke were seen billowing from the parking area […]
In northern Kenya, al-Shabaab militants target Christian teachers
RNS After the militant group al-Shabaab killed three of his colleagues in a recent attack on Christian schoolteachers here, Jared Nyanchong’i packed his few belongings and boarded a bus to the capital, Nairobi. “These people call us black Satan, devil and kafir,” said Nyanchong’i, 40, a father of three. “The life of teachers is very important. […]