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Kenyan president vows to eradicate terrorism, graft

Xinhua, April 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday vowed to overcome terrorism and corruption challenges which threaten to wipe out development in the East African nation.

Kenyatta, whose country has suffered frequent terror attacks, said his government will not relent in its fight against the two criminal activities.

"The challenges of terrorism and corruption must be fought for only if we are to succeed and have a secured future for our children's children," he said during the 21st Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) General Assembly in Nairobi.

The president's remarks come in the wake of terrorist attack at the Garissa University College where 148 people were killed.

The World Bank also said Monday that the security risk posed by the extremist groups has the potential to undermine gains made in the East African nation's economy.

According to the World Bank, persistent security threats from Islamic extremist group Al-Shabaab are eroding Kenya's economic gains from the falling international oil prices.

"The insecurity we have seen in Kenya first at the Westgate Mall and the recent attack in Garissa are troubling," said World Bank economist Fransisco Ferreira. "Tourism in Mombasa and the coastal region has been affected, and there are serious consequences from that, it is a real shame because otherwise, Kenya is really poised for a period of sustained growth."

But Kenyatta said success against graft and insecurity wouldn't be achieved through efforts of government alone, and called on all citizens to partner with the government against these social evils.

"If we are to end terrorism, we must agree to come together as a nation that has preached and practiced religious tolerance to defeat those who preach intolerance," Kenyatta said.

He said he will work with the church and all Kenyans in rooting out corruption and terrorism. With this, he said, Kenya will prosper and become a middle income nation.

The new PCEA Moderator Julius Mwamba said graft is a cancer at the heart of the national fiber. Citing insecurity as a national problem, the new PCEA moderator said the war against Al-Shabaab in Somalia must continue.

Kenya blames Al-Shabaab for the kidnappings of foreigners, and fears its tourist and business economy will be destroyed if it allows the insurgents to go on unchallenged.

The trend of the attacks, particularly in northern Kenya, Nairobi and Mombasa, has heightened worries among Kenyans. The government also announced it was stepping up its naval patrols in the Indian Ocean, in order to prevent militants coming into the country via the open waters. Endi