Political Tensions Rise in Kenya Following University Terrorist Attack

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has received massive criticism from opposition parties, political analysts and regular population on account of the untimely police reaction during the Garissa University terrorist attack.

Over 140 students were murdered, as al Shabaab rebel soldiers entered the university and started torturing and killing students in the building, located approximately 200 km away from the Somali border.

Spcial forces had been delayed 7 hours to arrive on the scene, while it took them merely thirty minutes to end the hostage crisis. Reportedly, the problem had been the lack of protective vests for the police officers, without which the mission would have been unsuccessful in the words of authorities, as quoted by Reuters.

The organization that took responsibility for the bloody terrorist act is al Shabaab, an ally to al-Qaeda operating in Somalia. Rebel forces had been warning that if Kenya does not retreat its participation in the ''stability mission'' in Somalia, its streets will run ''red with blood''.

Current government refuses to resort to that despite the surge of violence. However, a decision of this kind needs to be taken by the African Union, of which Kenya is part, that has voted on the policy in the first place.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have stated that the measures taken by Kenyatta's administration are insufficient and ineffective. They involved closing down of Somali remittance firms and freezing of the accounts of the people linked to the SOmali rebels.

Another problem pointed out in an analysis published by the New York Times addressed the issue of corruption in the process of hiring police officers. Allegedly, young boys and girls need to gather money from relatives and friends for a USD 2,000 bribe to authorities in order to be recruited. The monthly salary for the job is USD 200, thus making repayment close to impossible. The system has been largely deemed ineffective, as the number of employees increases, but results diminish.

Kenya's President, however, countered his critics by stating that he is thankful and satisfied with the work of police authorities during the Garissa University terrorist attack.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!