Three Christians killed in a school attack as violence levels rise

Three Christians have been killed and another wounded in a violent attack in north eastern Kenya. Please pray for the grieving families, and for the school affected. 

17 January 2020

Three Christians have been killed and another wounded in a violent attack in north eastern Kenya.

Suspected al-Shabaab members stormed a school in Kamuthe on Monday 13 January and shot dead three Christian teachers: Caleb Mutangia Mutua (28), Titus Sasieka Mushindi luhya (29) and Samwel Mutua Kamba (29). A fourth teacher, Joshua Mutua Kamba (30), sustained two bullet wounds to his lower legs. 

The militants also attacked Kamuthe police patrol base and burned it down before damaging the Safaricom cellphone mast located at Kamuthe market. 

Although al-Shabaab has so far not claimed responsibility, they are suspected to be behind the attack. Local sources told Open Doors that the motive is likely a continuation of efforts to rid the area bordering Somalia of its Christian presence. Garissa County Regional Education Officer Yusuf Karayu says that the school has been closed and all teachers operating along the borderline will be transferred immediately. 

Kenya has gone down on the 2020 World Watch List, from number 40 in 2019 to number 44 - but al-Shabaab has stepped up their attacks since December 2019. On Sunday 5 January, they attacked a US military base in the coastal Lamu region, destroying several aircraft and killing three Americans. Two days later they killed four civilians, including a child, during an attack on a telecommunications mast near Garissa. They issued a statement on Wednesday 8 January warning that Kenya 'will never be safe'.

Open Doors works through local partners and churches in Kenya to support persecuted Christians through leadership and discipleship training, economic empowerment, and trauma care training. 

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in this coastal region who are on high alert once more; in particular, for the grieving families of the men who were killed in this latest attack, and for Joshua Mutua Kamba that his leg would heal quickly.