Last Saturday will never be forgotten by our Kenyan brothers and sisters. An estimated 10 to 15 unidentified gunmen attacked the up-scale Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi. The militants engaged in a firefight with Kenyan security forces, murdering at least 62 people according to the Kenyan Red Cross. Another 175 people were reportedly wounded in the mass shooting. Islamist group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the incident, which it they said was a way of retribution for the Kenyan military’s deployment in Somalia. Meanwhile, our very own Ugandan artistes Peter Miles and Cindy will also live to remember September 21 as one hell of a day. As the Westgate siege went on, Miles and Cindy were gearing up to perform at the annual German-organised beer festival dubbed the Oktoberfest which was held at Impala grounds in Nairobi. The event was to go on for three days, from Friday September 20 to Sunday September 22.
Cindy and Peter Miles performed on September 21, the same day the siege started.
But while at the show, Cindy and Miles learnt of an ongoing terrorist attack on a mall that was not very far away from where they were performing.
Both artistes dedicated their performances to the victims at Westgate. “I wanna dedicate my show tonight to all the survivors and families that have been affected by the gunmen who have invaded Westgate Mall, Emmanuel, God is with us,” Cindy wrote.
Peter Miles also sympathised with the victims and also thanked those who turned up for the show for braving the terror to go and support him, “Very sad about the tragedy that befell my Kenyan brothers and sisters yesterday and today. But besides the terror attacks thanks for the love you showed me and I couldn’t let those cowards spoil our show; massive thanks and luv for all ya that turned… my prayers with you.”
Miles and Cindy returned safely to Kampala. Our sympathies to Kenya as a nation and in a special way to the victims of the Westgate Mall siege! #WeAreOne!
