Mothers’ fury as children’s joy stolen

She was giving thanks to God for a good week when her time for thanksgiving was interrupted at around 10.30am by a deafening explosion over the pious atmosphere.

Anne Wanjiru knew the blast at ACK Polycarp Church had come from the Sunday School section where her child Dennis Ng’etha was.

“I found him. I was lucky he was not seriously injured,” she said on Sunday at Guru Nanak Hospital where her 10-year-old son was admitted with slight head and leg injuries.

Looked disturbed

Dennis looked disturbed, a clear indication the terrorist act had taken a toll on his confidence.

He sat at the hospital’s ward with three other children: Mercy Waithera, Grace Muthuri and Teresia Wangechi - all are under 10 years, their innocent joy stolen by the grenade attack moments before.

They were still waiting for their parents to arrive after being taken to the hospital, the nearest from the scene of the attack.

The other three had similar injuries and officials at the hospital said they would probably be discharged after assessment.

Ms Wanjiru who accompanied her young one to the hospital with another child strapped on her back, the youngest, spoke of the peaceful atmosphere before all hell broke loose.

“The service had just started. Members were streaming in when this happened,” she said.

At Kenyatta National Hospital, doctors powered back their tools to attend to seven children admitted there even though they had been observing a go-slow by trainee doctors to demand better equipment and pay.

A parent who wished not to be interviewed was taking care of her injured son, heavily bandaged on the head. She was too distraught to talk.

Acting chief executive officer Thomas Mutie said the referral hospital was running normally, despite the trainee doctors’ job boycott. “The consultants are here, and were on hand to attend to the children. We have enough manpower to handle the situation. We are in control ,” Dr Mutie said on Sunday.

One child was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with severe injuries, while another two were taken to the surgical wards. Four were treated and discharged.

“The three suffered serious head, abdominal and chest injuries. Some also had fractures,” Dr Mutie said.

Those admitted to KNH were Maurice Irungu, 8, Ian Muchiri, 7, Malcon Murage, 9, Hilda Wathere, 8, Evans Mwangi, 10, Elvis Karani, 9. One was not identified.

Nine-year-old Ian Maina was killed in the blast that struck the Sunday School section of the ACK Polycarp Church mid-morning.

Danson Kamau, a member of the church who was helping the injured at the scene, said: “The massive blast  detached the church’s roof. Many people fell down before getting up and running for safety as children wailed in shock.”

Mr Kamau said he carried about six injured children to members’ cars who rushed the crying children to Radiant Hospital in Pangani, where hospital the nurses conducted first aid before they were transported in Red Cross ambulances to KNH.

Radiant Hospital spokesman Padson Chiira said one boy was dead by the time he was brought to the facility.

His mother, Jane Siavinya, was sobbing, and was being consoled by church members when the Nation arrived at the hospital.

She asked for justice for her son, John Ian Maina, who had just celebrated his birthday.

“The government must bring these culprits to book. I cannot believe that they targeted children,” she said.