Terror attack; Rwanda stands with Kenya
President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda at a previous function.
Rwanda has condemned the latest attacks in Garissa and called on Kenyans to unite and exercise resilient.
The Rwanda ambassador to Kenya Yamina Karitany said that Rwanda was concerned with the recent attacks in the country because Kenya’s stability was key in the development of Rwanda and the other East African Community countries.
“We stand together because whoever can reach Kenya can certainly reach Rwanda. We are mindful of the fact that a threat is a threat, not within the country boarders but throughout the world,” Ambassador Yamina said.
On Sunday masked gunmen shot at worshipers in two churches in Garissa where they hurled two grenades killing 16 and injuring 50 others.
She said that Kenya was still a safe country for over 5000 Rwandans living in Kenya despite the attacks. The ambassador also stressed that both governments will work together to prepare and prevent further attacks.
Yamina also noted that Rwanda plays a leading role in the East African Standby Force which strengthens regional capacity in the maintenance of peace and security.
Rwandans are celebrating a journey of resilience since last Sunday when the country marked 50 years of independence.
According to Yamina, post-independence Rwanda was characterized by divisionism, prejudice and hatred among the citizens which culminated to a devastating 1994 genocide that saw a million people die within hundred days.
However, between 2006 and 2011, poverty level in Rwanda dropped by 11.8 percent, infant and maternal mortality rates declined by 41 percent and 35 percent respectively while enrolment is secondary school tripled. More than 650,000 jobs, most of them in non-agricultural sector, were also created according to Rwanda government.
The ambassador attributed these developments to “warm relations” Rwanda shares with Kenya through active bilateral cooperations in education, health, cooperatives, defenses, and energy among other fields.
Yamina had invited excellences ambassadors and high commissioners, the Rwandan community and friends to celebrate Rwanda’s Golden Jubilee Independence at the Embassy of Rwanda in Nairobi.
