Kenyan Muslims shield Christians in bus attack

Last year, a bus was attacked near Mandera by al-Shabab militants, who killed 36 non-Muslims travelling to Nairobi for Christmas celebrations. “They told the locals of Somali origin and Muslim faith to board the bus but Christians remained”, a passenger identified only as Otieno said.

“Two people were killed and at least three people were injured in the attack”. The forum which was organized by Centre for Community Awareness (CCA) was first of its kind held in Somali capital and tackled key issues mainly on how young people can cooperate with security agencies in countering radicalization and preventing recruitment into Al Qaida linked group Al Shabaab and hence terror attacks.

An extremist entered the bus and ordered everyone to get out and form two separate groups of non-Muslims and Muslims, said Hussein.

Mandera has carried the brunt of the attacks recently.

“The attackers tried to wave the bus down but then sprayed it with bullets when the driver refused to stop”, Saleh told Al Jazeera. He revealed that during the attack one person was shot dead while trying to run away from the militants after passengers had been forced off the bus.

The militants also shot at a lorry that was passing by and killed a passenger.

A man looks out of a bus as it travels to Nairobi, next a police vehicle escorting it through Mandera town, at the Kenya-Somalia border, December 6, 2014.

When al-Shabab killed 148 people in an attack on Garissa University College in April, the militants reportedly singled out Christians and shot them, while freeing many Muslims. “They can not cause a religious war and I thank the passengers and locals”, said Nkaissery.