Stella Abudu, from Ghana, writes:
Reactions to the bombings was mixed.
Initially telecommunication networks were jammed as
people were calling loved ones. We later heard a rumor
that one ghanaian was included but it was debunked
afterwards.
7/10/2005
Kenyans worried about strict travel regulations after the London bombings
Olive Munyi writes:
As the news about the London blast flooded the airwaves, Kenyans are mainly worried
about the expected strict travel regulations laws that have been stepped up.
Just like it was with the September 11,so its bound to be from now on. Anyone who had made plans to travel to the United Kingdom the news of the bomb attack was dreaded.
However, two Kenyans were reported to have been involved in the incident. One of them is a lady working as a nurse, and a gentleman who works as a security guard. The good news is that by yesterday they both were reported as out of danger and on a speedy recovery path by the hospital.
Three days on from the bombings in Central London, Muslim businessman Khuzeima Mamujee has voiced concerns over the impact of the event on travel and security in Kenya.
In an interview from his office in Nairobi, Mamujee voiced a concern that visa application may be restricted for Muslims traveling from East Africa as a result of the bombings. “For me as a Muslim it will be difficult”, he stated.
In recent years a steady flow of Kenyan nationals have visited the British Isles.
With the Prime Minister Tony Blair pressing hard for the implementation of identity cards only last week, it seems the terrorist strike in London is likely to bring tighter security, immigration and travel legislation in the near future. Mamujee said that the Muslim community in East Africa and elsewhere is likely to suffer as a result.
The Muslim businessman was adamant in his condemnation of the as yet unidentified bombers: “Islam does not support terrorism”. He pleaded for change in media coverage of the events, saying that whilst terrorists invariably originate from Muslim countries, “Islam as a religion does not support that”. He criticized the international media for not doing enough to emphasize this distinction.
Mamujee was directly involved in the aftermath of the U.S embassy bombing that afflicted Nairobi in 1998. His perceptions of the dangers posed by terrorism are therefore far from abstract. Whilst stating that relations between the eclectic mix of different religions in Kenya were good, he said that Muslims share the same fears produced by the terrorist threat. “I have my children, I have my business, they will destroy me”.
Concern was expressed over the security situation in Kenya. “If there is no security in England, what will happen in Kenya? We have no security cameras”. He advised the security services to be aware of the threat and take the appropriate steps to counter the terrorist threat. But this is made difficult; “corruption can destroy small countries. Kenya is corrupt; terrorists can easily enter using money.”
Mr. Mamujee stated that in other countries where border police and customs officers are paid better they cannot be bribed. In light of this he firmly supports the doubling of aid to poorer African countries by the G8 council in Scotland last week. This development will, he said, allow salaries to be increased, thereby acting as an incentive to good conduct and a deterrent against corrupt practices.
Rather than allocating resources on sophisticated monitoring equipment – as has been suggested by Kibaki’s government – funds should be used at grass roots level to increase the salaries of employees involved in security enforcement.
In addition, Mamujee suggested more stringent measure be taken against those found guilty of corrupt practices. “Harsh sentences should be given”, he stated.
The impassioned dialogue was concluded with a message for those affected in Thursday’s atrocities. “As a Muslim and as a business man, I am sending my condolences”.
As the news about the London blast flooded the airwaves, Kenyans are mainly worried
about the expected strict travel regulations laws that have been stepped up.
Just like it was with the September 11,so its bound to be from now on. Anyone who had made plans to travel to the United Kingdom the news of the bomb attack was dreaded.
However, two Kenyans were reported to have been involved in the incident. One of them is a lady working as a nurse, and a gentleman who works as a security guard. The good news is that by yesterday they both were reported as out of danger and on a speedy recovery path by the hospital.
Three days on from the bombings in Central London, Muslim businessman Khuzeima Mamujee has voiced concerns over the impact of the event on travel and security in Kenya.
In an interview from his office in Nairobi, Mamujee voiced a concern that visa application may be restricted for Muslims traveling from East Africa as a result of the bombings. “For me as a Muslim it will be difficult”, he stated.
In recent years a steady flow of Kenyan nationals have visited the British Isles.
With the Prime Minister Tony Blair pressing hard for the implementation of identity cards only last week, it seems the terrorist strike in London is likely to bring tighter security, immigration and travel legislation in the near future. Mamujee said that the Muslim community in East Africa and elsewhere is likely to suffer as a result.
The Muslim businessman was adamant in his condemnation of the as yet unidentified bombers: “Islam does not support terrorism”. He pleaded for change in media coverage of the events, saying that whilst terrorists invariably originate from Muslim countries, “Islam as a religion does not support that”. He criticized the international media for not doing enough to emphasize this distinction.
Mamujee was directly involved in the aftermath of the U.S embassy bombing that afflicted Nairobi in 1998. His perceptions of the dangers posed by terrorism are therefore far from abstract. Whilst stating that relations between the eclectic mix of different religions in Kenya were good, he said that Muslims share the same fears produced by the terrorist threat. “I have my children, I have my business, they will destroy me”.
Concern was expressed over the security situation in Kenya. “If there is no security in England, what will happen in Kenya? We have no security cameras”. He advised the security services to be aware of the threat and take the appropriate steps to counter the terrorist threat. But this is made difficult; “corruption can destroy small countries. Kenya is corrupt; terrorists can easily enter using money.”
Mr. Mamujee stated that in other countries where border police and customs officers are paid better they cannot be bribed. In light of this he firmly supports the doubling of aid to poorer African countries by the G8 council in Scotland last week. This development will, he said, allow salaries to be increased, thereby acting as an incentive to good conduct and a deterrent against corrupt practices.
Rather than allocating resources on sophisticated monitoring equipment – as has been suggested by Kibaki’s government – funds should be used at grass roots level to increase the salaries of employees involved in security enforcement.
In addition, Mamujee suggested more stringent measure be taken against those found guilty of corrupt practices. “Harsh sentences should be given”, he stated.
The impassioned dialogue was concluded with a message for those affected in Thursday’s atrocities. “As a Muslim and as a business man, I am sending my condolences”.
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