“We are heartbroken”. This is how Mark Thiongo, a Kenyan master’s student in environmental policy and management at Lund University, began his speech in front of the AF Building yesterday evening. The event held was held in commemoration of the 147 students of Garissa University killed by the al-Shabab on April 2nd.
Photo: Lukas J. Herbers
“We are lighting the candles to fight the darkness,” said Jan Kjellström, the international students chaplain.
The event Candle Light Vigil for Kenyan Terrorism Victims gathered around 50 students yesterday evening in front of the AF Building. The Kenyan community that is led by Mark Thiong’o, a student who is heavily involved in Kenyan politics, initiated the commemoration.
After singing the Kenyan national anthem, the international student chaplain, Jan Kjellstrom, gave a speech addressing religion as a way to gather people rather than to spread hatred. Afterwards, every student was invited to talk freely about their thoughts on the matter, regardless of their background. It was a very moving evening, filled with confessions from international students from Africa, Middle East and Europe.
Photo: Lukas J. Herbers
A need to be united against terrorism
Mark Thiong’o had received a call from his brother in the morning on Thursday and he knew exactly what his brother meant when he heard the words: “it has happened again.” Mark Thiong’o believes that the best thing an activist can do is to gather and unite through the universities. In modern society, individuals are connected through various social media. And while most of students stayed passive in the face of the event, Mark Thiong’o wants everyone to be aware.
“It could happen anywhere else, terrorism attacks, happened in France, it might happen in Sweden. We have to talk about it openly.”
The master’s student also brought up the fact that the 147 students represent not only a number, but also that “they had names, ambitions, hopes.”
