ICC’s Kenya Correspondent
03/09/2017 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Terrorist activities against Christians have increased tremendously in Kenya over the last several years. Churches, passenger vehicles, schools, police stations, shopping malls, and guesthouses have all been the targets of these increasing attacks.
Mandera County, located in northeastern Kenya, has sustained most of the attacks due to its location on the porous border between Somalia and Kenya. The short distance from Mandera to the border makes it easy for al-Shabaab to slip into Mandera, execute an attack, and safely return to Somalia. Between 2014 and 2016, al-Shabaab militants in Mandera County have killed 112 people, accounting for the highest number of Christians targeted and killed by al-Shabaab in the last several years.
In addition to the 112 killed in Mandera County, hundreds of others have to live with injuries sustained from these repeated attacks. John Muriuki is one such survivor. He and at least 30 other quarry workers were attacked on July 14, 2015. He remembers the night of his attack vividly.
Muriuki and the other quarry workers were sleeping on the Soko Mbuzi estate. “This was a normal night for us but little did we know that the enemy would lay a siege,” Muriuki told International Christian Concern (ICC). “We heard very loud blasts at the main gate that bombarded the house, sending us into panic. Confusion engulfed [us], and we knew an attack had just been launched.”
“Everyone now was scampering for safety in all directions,” Muriuki continued. “The attackers had spread in the house… and [were] shooting at us. We knew we would be the first people killed because our cubicle was the first from the gate.”
“Four of my roommates managed to climb up in the ceiling before the assailants reached our door.” Muriuki remembered. “My other roommate and I tried to dive under the bed because the ceiling was already full, but unfortunately, my friend was shot in the head and chest.”
How did John Muriuki survive?
“I remember seeing three armed men at our door,” Muriuki recalled. “I decided to come out of the bed where my friend’s body was lying and I leaned on the wall, squeezing myself behind the door. For about one minute, the gunman at the door stood pointing his gun inside our room. He shot twice at me and one of the bullets entered my right hand. He once again shot at a very close range and the bullet barely missed my chest. Instead, it broke my left forearm. He left in hurry because he thought I was dead.”
The shooting continued for an hour before the gunmen left. Muriuki and the other injured people were evacuated by the Kenyan Red Cross and flown to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. After two weeks of treatment, the hospital discharged him and then ICC made contact with him. For the past year, ICC has followed up with John to ensure that he receives the medical care and support he needs to recover from this vicious attack.
This year, Muriuki received another surgery that removed scar tissue from his wounds that were inhibiting his ability to use his hands. He also received the necessary medicine and post-operation therapy he needed to make sure that he regains full use of his hands. Muriuki will continue his physiotherapy for the rest of 2017 to strengthen his arms. We pray that he will be able to regain his health and start performing light work again.
“Life has not been the same since the attack because I was using my hands in [the] quarry stone cutting business in Mandera.” Muriuki explained. “I have not been able to work for my family. My wife has been doing menial jobs to support us, but it is still hard.”
“I am very excited today because I am on my final stages to full recovery,” Muriuki told ICC. “This has only been possible through ICC. It is still amazing and encouraging to know that some people far away, and not even known to me, have been helping me and my family. May God bless ICC.”