In northern Kenya, al-Shabab militants target Christian teachers

webrns-kenya-teachers1-050418Source: Religion News Service

By Doreen Ajiambo

WAJIR, Kenya (RNS) — After the militant group al-Shabab killed three of his colleagues in a recent attack on Christian schoolteachers here, Jared Nyanchong’i packed his few belongings and boarded a bus to the capital, Nairobi.

“These people call us black Satan, devil and kafir,” said Nyanchong’i, 40, a father of three. “The life of teachers is very important. We love teaching and we can teach in all parts of the country — but only when our lives are not threatened.”

Nyanchong’i is one of more than 1,100 Christian teachers who have fled since al-Shabab began coming across the border into northern Kenya from Somalia in 2017, mostly targeting non-Muslim teachers. While about 85 percent of Kenya is Christian, the country’s north is occupied predominantly by Muslim ethnic Somalis.

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3 replies

  1. It’s sad to hear another incident of arrogance and extremism. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said that I am sent to this world as a teacher. So Muslims should be respecting teachers the most. But who can tell these so-called Muslims, that in fact what they are doing is a mere practical display of arrogance, hypocrisy and extreme insensitivity. Islam is all about “Love for All, Hatred For none”, and all Muslims should be the practical example of this. We have our sincere condolences for the families. We love you all and respect you, those who have now departed, were the teachers, nation builders, our proud!
    May Allah have mercy on them.

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