Update
Alert levels have been raised in Kenya, especially in Nairobi, fearing further attacks against civilians. On Sunday night/Monday early morning a grenade was launched from a car towards the entrance of a bar in downtown Nairobi, leaving a dozen people seriously wounded. A second episode took place that very evening, in front of the OTC bus station, in the city centre. This attack was carried out in the same fashion: this time, however, a person perished and 16 others were urgently hospitalized at the Kenyatta Nairobi Hospital. Although since the beginning authorities have blamed the Somali organization of al-Shabaab, neither have they admitted to be behind these actions nor have the Police collected evidences that show their responsibility so far. Nonetheless, both the attacks may represent the retaliation previously announced by the Islamist group against Kenya. This country is held guilty for having launching a fully fledged military campaign in Somalia at the beginning of last week, an intervention which targets their strongholds.
The government in Nairobi unfortunately decided to intervene manu militari, after that, over the last months, control over the bordering areas of the two countries has been progressively loosening. A difficulty shown by the killing of a British tourist and the kidnapping of his wife in a town along the Kenyan coast September, 11th, along with the kidnapping of a French citizen October, 1st and of two Spanish MSF workers nearby Dadaab refugee camp on the 13th of October. Responsibility for these actions has been laid on al-Shabaab – who has clearly denied these charges. The military intervention “Linda Nchi”, realized in accordance with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, aims at defeating once for all the above-mentioned Islamic militias, in addition to, apparently, the creation of a buffer zone in the southern regions of Somalia. In these days the Kenyan aviation and troops move forward, clashing with the guerrilla and adding complexity to the already desperate situation the civilian population is going through, victim of an endless drought.
The conflict has obvious consequences within Kenya itself. Western embassies have emitted bulletins, asking their fellow citizen to keep their eyes open. Nevertheless, World Friends keeps running its day-to-day activities without problems, a part from some additional security measures.
The continuation of military operations and the eventual involvement of civilians, in the medium/long term, may spark tensions between the local population and the large Somali community in Kenya. In Nairobi Somalis have traditionally settled down in Eastleigh, in the oriental outskirts of the capital; this represents a hub for either the Kenyan citizenry of Somali origins and for Somali refugees and asylum seekers. Here the government has expressed the intention to step up police operations targeting suspicious activities: interventions that might deepen the existing perception of a discriminatory policy against the Somali community.
Saint Therese, in Eastleigh, is a long standing partner of World Friends and one of the dispensaries members of the network referring to Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital. This neighbourhood its included, along with the rest of Nairobi north-east, in the catchment area of RUNH: any deterioration of the actual fragile situation may compromise the correct functioning of the hospital and its network, together with the regular carrying out of activities by World Friends.
Summary:
Monday, October 17th the Kenyan army launched a military campaign across the border of Somalia, aimed at wiping out the terrorist organization al-Shabaab. The Islamic movement has responded by announcing retaliation on Kenyan territory. In the night between Sunday and Monday, and on Monday evening, two different bombing attacks targeted a bar and a bus station in downtown Nairobi. Responsibility for these actions has not been established yet, but authorities have put the blame on the Somali fundamentalists. Alert levels have been raised, and security measures multiplied. World Friends’ activities are being carried out regularly, as well as those of Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital. Given the large Somali community living in the catchment area of the hospital, and the potential increase of tension between the local population and its Somali component, a deterioration of the actual fragile situation may compromise the correct functioning of the hospital and its network, together with the regular carrying out of activities by World Friends.
Jacopo Rovarini, Nairobi, World Friends Kenya