Press Release
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) strongly condemns the loss of life and despicable destruction of the Salvation Army Church at Majengo, Mombasa, today. Salvation Army is a member church of the NCCK, and our entire church family is saddened and disturbed by this act which is a desperate attempt to foment religious violence in Kenya. We regret that such acts that smacks of impunity, come just days after the brutal attack at the Westgate Mall that left over sixty people dead and scores of others injured.
We are especially concerned that the church was attacked by youths purportedly protesting the killing of four men last night including a Sheikh. We condemn the murder of the four, and call upon the security agencies in the country to conduct speedy investigations and bring those responsible to justice. However, we do not understand what relationship exists between the killing of the four men and the Salvation Army church at Majengo, or any other church. It is regrettable that we had similar attacks on churches, including the Salvation Army church at Majengo and NCCK offices in Mombasa, two years ago during similar demonstrations.
In the meantime, we call upon all Christians in Mombasa and the entire country to remain calm and to pray that peace may prevail in our nation. We demand that the security agencies speedily investigate and apprehend all the individuals who were involved in the torching of the church without any excuses. This must be treated as a criminal activity for which the perpetrators must individually be held to account.
It is our prayer that God will comfort and encourage our worshippers who fellowship at Salvation Army Church, Majengo, even as they work to repair the damage done to the sanctuary.
May God bless Kenya with peace.
Signed on this 4th day of October 2013 at Jumuia Place, Nairobi.
Rev Canon Peter Karanja
GENERAL SECRETARY
