Document
Letter to Kenyan president H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta following the massacre that took place at the Westgate Shopping Centre in Nairobi beginning 21 September 2013.
Your Excellency,
It is with profound sadness that we witnessed the terrible tragedy caused by the unwarranted attack against innocent civilians in the Westgate shopping centre one week ago, beginning 21 September. We deplore and condemn such barbaric acts of violence. It is heartbreaking that civilians, mostly women and children, became targets of such violence.
We mourn the lives taken and pray for the quick recovery and healing of those wounded and affected by this tragedy. We praise the courage of all those who risked their lives to come to the rescue of others, and we hope that the Kenyan government will bring the perpetrators of this massacre to justice and ensure security and peace for all Kenyans.
We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and express our sympathy and solidarity to your government, your Excellency, and to all the people of Kenya, especially to those directly affected by this traumatic ordeal.
Our prayers and thoughts are with the people of Kenya in this time of grief and suffering. May the God of Life continue to strengthen you to "seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14).
Sincerely yours,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
WCC general secretary
