U.S. calls for concerted efforts, unity to tackle terrorism

The U.S. government on Monday called for concerted efforts to help tackle terrorism which is now a global threat.

Visiting Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington will work together with the Kenyan government to ensure terrorism remains a thing of the past, and pledged its support to Kenya to curb terror threats.

"We should all unite in fighting terror because there is more strength in our solidarity than in any terrorist attack. Terrorism will always fail," Kerry said Monday during a visit of the August 7th Bomb Blast Memorial Park in Nairobi where he laid a wreath and addressed some survivors.

"Terrorists cannot defeat countries united in the war against terrorism. We do have the power to fight back, not just with our military but also with our unity," he said.

The U.S. top diplomat said terrorists, who struck the building which housed the U.S. embassy in Nairobi in 1998, terribly failed in their purpose, noting that "terrorism will always fail."

"The only place for Al-Qaida, Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram is in the past. They have no future," he said after placing a wreath at the memorial park in memory of those who perished during the 1998 terrorist attack at the former U.S. embassy building.

The simultaneous attack at the embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on August 7 1998 by an Al-Qaida linked terror group killed over 200 people.

Over 5,000 Kenyans were also injured in the blast, which Washington said was carried out by Osama bin Laden, who was shot dead by U.S. special forces in 2011.

A section of the survivors who are blinded and crippled recently pushed for the compensation and other damages from the U. S. government ahead of President Barack Obama visit.

The victims said Washington had forgotten their cry for help unlike the Americans who were given fully support for their loss in both the 1998 blast and the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Kerry said terrorism should not be given a chance in the modern world in order to ensure growth in every aspect and reiterated that unity, alongside military might, was key in the fight against terrorism.

"Terrorists have brought tragedies to Kenyans. Words are not enough to express our sorrow. It is with deep sadness that I lay a wreath dedicated to the many Kenyans and Americans who perished," he added.

The U.S. Secretary of State is on a three-day official visit in Kenya, where he is holding a series of meetings with President Uhuru Kenyatta and senior government officials, focusing on counter-terrorism measures, trade and investments issues.

The visit comes at a time of heightened concern about attacks in Kenya carried out by Somali militant group Al-Shabaab, which have vowed to wage more attacks until Nairobi pulls out its troops from Somalia. Endi