Editorials

EDITORIAL: Kenya will overcome merchants of terror

attack

Security officers arrive at 14 Riverside Drive to combat suspected terrorists on Tuesday. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NMG

It is encouraging to note that the international community has stood firmly with the people of Kenya in the aftermath of this week’s dastardly act of terrorism.

The United States and the United Kingdom, often regarded as Kenya’s most sensitive tourist source markets, have this time round spared the country fresh travel advisories.

Neither have the headquarters of international institutions nor multinational firms hosted in Kenya expressed any form of distress in the wake of the attack at the upscale business complex that claimed 21 lives. Without doubt, that is the kind of contempt with which these attention-seeking merchants of terror ought to be regarded if only to stop them from spreading fear and discord in a society where civility reigns.

Lest we forget, terrorism is more of a global than a national problem. Like recent attacks have shown, its scale of destruction knows no gender, race, religion or geographical boundaries.

The 14 Riverside attack on Tuesday came as a blow to Kenya’s economic recovery journey. The tourism industry, long battered by past incidents for insecurity, had just proved its resilience with visitor numbers peaking to 2,025206 or 37.3 per cent growth over the 1,474671 guests received the previous year. Despite the blow, the inflow of visitors is expected to remain steady.

Significantly, the confidence shown by the international community means that Kenya’s economy has remained largely intact despite the attack. The country has retained all the muscles it requires to play its role in the global fight against terrorism. Citizens want to see them flexed to stop groups bent on exploiting disillusionment of the youth to cause mayhem in their motherland.

To compliment the work of the authorities, Kenyans of all persuasions and walks of life would be advised to pass on every piece of intelligence that can make the country safer for all. A breach of the security in the scale that happened on Tuesday means security agencies and citizens must always be on the high alert and willing to work together.

Above all, the country’s intelligence gathering agencies must live up to expectation.

The war on terror is a concerted effort. It requires the support of all and is also a call to vigilance at all times.