No Malawian casualty in Nairobi shooting
As the situation remained tense following Saturday’s mass shooting in a Nairobi shopping mall in Kenya, the Malawi High Commission has said so far there is no report of Malawian casualties.
High Commissioner to Kenya brigadier general (retired) Marcel Chirwa, however, said yesterday the stand-off was still on.
The shopping mall is a few metres away from the Malawi mission offices and next to the University of Nairobi.
Gunmen are using hostages as shield from Kenyan forces that went on a rescue mission.
“If Malawians were at the shopping mall they may be inside the mall. However, there is no news to that effect (casualties),” said Chirwa. “I am worried about Malawian students.”
Al Qaeda-linked militants on Saturday killed at least 59 people and held hostage an unknown number of people in the mall.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Abel Kayembe also said there is no report of Malawian casualties.
But he said a full report might be out on Monday.
The Somali Islamist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack on the Kenyan capital’s Westgate mall, which is frequented by foreiners as well as Kenyans. Several foreigners, including a Canadian diplomat, were among the dead.
France said two of its citizens had been killed.
