Thank God we came out alive after church tragedy

Survivors of Sunday’s grenade attack in Nairobi condemned the act but thanked God for their lives.

Mr Joseph Zachary Ndege, 57, was in the thick of the explosion at God’s House of Miracles International Church in Ngara area that killed one person and left 16 others seriously injured.

He remembers hearing a huge bang followed by gun shot sounds before feeling pain sweep across his body.

“Smoke soon engulfed the whole place. That is when I realised blood was all over my body,” he told the Nation from his bed at Guru Nanak Hospital moments before he was transferred to Nairobi Hospital.

Mr Ndege had missed the previous church service, and had vowed not to miss the early morning sermon when the tragedy occurred.

And Ms Sarah Wamboi says it all happened very fast. She was deeply absorbed in prayer when she heard an explosion, followed by darkness.

“The pastor was just about to offer prayers, and we were all engrossed in prayer with hands raised in submission to God when I heard an explosion and all that followed was total darkness,” she said.

According to eye-witness Abel Andayi, the attacker threw the grenade when everyone was closing their eyes to pray as is the tradition with Christians. The man caught his attention since he had all along sat on the front, only to walk out at that critical time of prayer.

Pastor Josephine Mwangare who was about to lead in prayers, was lucky to have sustained minor injuries despite the grenade having been hurled directly at her.

“I really cannot tell exactly what transpired because I was deeply in prayer at that time,” she said from her hospital bed at Guru Nanak Hospital where she is recuperating.

“I missed church service last week and really wanted to be among the worshippers. Little did I know it would turn out like this. But all in all, I’m very grateful to God for saving my life,” said 20-year-old Carole Rose who sustained serious leg injuries.

Six of those critically injured were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital where doctors said they were stable.

Dr Peter Kwonyike who spoke to the Nation at the hospital, said: “Others have been taken to various hospitals but the six who are here at Kenyatta are stable.”

The grenade claimed the life of Kevin Warumbe who died on the scene before his body was taken to City mortuary.

No security checks are conducted at most churches despite numerous police warnings for heightened security.

“We do not screen people here because we believe all are Christians with good intentions,” said Mr Moris Atsali who stands guard at the gate.

“I was behind the church on a short errand when I suddenly heard an explosion and we all became confused.”

Mr Andayi said he clearly saw the attacker who entered the church shortly before 7am yesterday, and left only to return at 7.30am for the mass wearing different clothes, something that raised his suspicion.

“He is a short brown man and wore a sweater when he first came before leaving shortly after. When he came back, he was in different clothes and had a jacket. But I could not go to him and ask him questions because it is ungodly to suspect a fellow worshipper,” he told journalists at the scene.

He could not tell whether the man had the grenade when he came, but Mr Andayi said he saw him throw the explosive as the worshippers closed their eyes in prayer.

“He sat at the front and I was at the back. But as people were about to pray, he left like one going to the toilet. He then turned and threw the explosive,” Mr Andayi said.

The man took advantage of the ensuing confusion to escape.