- Gakuya said the new church will be opened by either President William Ruto or his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua once it is ready
- Pastor Peter Muthengi said he lost property worth more than Sh500,000 in the burnt church
MPs from Mt Kenya region have raised more than Sh5 million for a church burnt by suspected al Shabaab terrorists in Mpeketoni, Lamu county.
The legislators, who were with their Nairobi counterparts, promised to make Redeemed Gospel church Salama that was burnt by terrorists in August an ultramordern church.
Led by Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, they called for cohesion and unity to end the attacks in Lamu.
“We are asking the government to smoke out the bad characters from Lamu,” he said.
Gakuya said the new church will be opened by either President William Ruto or his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua once it is ready.
Present at the fundraiser was, Nyeri Town MP Duncan Maina, Kandara MP Chege wa Njuguna, Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara and Embakasi Central MP Mejjadonk Gathiru.
Juja MP George Koimburi, Maragua MP Mary wa Maua Lamu woman and Lamu Senator Joseph Githuku were also present.
The MPs were hosted by Lamu Woman Representative Monica Marubu.
Gakuya urged Lamu leaders to unite to win the war against terror.
Pastor Peter Muthengi said he lost property worth more than Sh500,000 in the burnt church.
He said he was at the church the night before the attack only to find it burnt to ashes the following day.
Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics chairman Mohamed Abdulkadir condemned the terrorists acts on the church.
Marabu said she has shed tears for the brutal and endless killings in Lamu.
She urged Christians, and Muslims to stand firm against terrorism.
On Saturday night, a day before the fundraising, one person was killed and houses burnt after suspected Al Shabab militants attacked Marafa and Poromoko villages.
“We want to know who is behind these killings because we cannot take it anymore,” Marabu said.
She said the killings have threatened the progress of the Sh60 billion Lapsset project.
Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara said all Kenyans should be respected and their lives protected.
“All of these leaders left their duties in their constituencies to stand with Lamu people. This church will be rebuilt in a modern way,” she said.
Wa Maua called for swift action against the terrorists.
“Those who were burnt the church are human beings created by God. Perpetrators should be dealt with,” she said.
Githuku urged residents not to allow ethnic divisions perpetuated by some people.