“The Al Shabaab rebels tried to separate Christians from the Muslims for execution, but Muslims on board took pains to protect the Christians.” Good. But not all escaped: “The militants seized a lorry that was behind the Makkah bus, and the conductor was killed after he failed to recite the Islamic Shahada.”
“Non-Muslims Targeted in Islamic Extremist Attacks in Mandera, Kenya,” Morning Star News, January 3, 2016:
NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – An attack on a bus and a truck in Kenya by Islamic extremists from Somalia’s Al Shabaab insurgency took two Christian lives in December.
In the attack on a bus with more than 100 passengers in Kenya’s northeast on Dec. 21, the Al Shabaab rebels tried to separate Christians from the Muslims for execution, but Muslims on board took pains to protect the Christians, an area source said.
Al Shabaab militants stopped the bus from Nairobi to Mandera near El Wak village. Muslims on board told the assailants that the militants would have to kill them all or leave them in peace. The Muslim passengers loaned their Islamic face coverings to Christian women and hid other Christians behind bags.
The area Christian source said one Christian who tried to flee was gunned down.
“We lost one of our church members, Meshack Owino, who tried to run away and was shot dead, and three other passengers were injured while the Muslims refused to go back into the bus when the militia commanded them,” said the source, who requested anonymity. “They decided to shield the Christians as the militia tried to separate the Muslims and Christians.”
Militants with Al Shabaab, which has taken responsibility for the attack, hid when they heard the sound of a truck that they thought might be a vehicle of the Kenya Defence Forces, he said. Passengers returned to the bus, which was between Dabacity Town and Borehole II, and it quickly continued on its way, the source said.
“To us Christians living in Mandera, we see this as God’s intervention,” he said.
Al Shabaab militants stopped the truck, however, and killed the driver, said to be a Christian, when he could not meet their demand to recite the Islamic creed, or Shahada, according to news reports.
“The militants seized a lorry that was behind the Makkah bus, and the conductor was killed after he failed to recite the Islamic Shahada,” the Daily Nation reported….

Matthieu Baudin says
“…Muslims on board told the assailants that the militants would have to kill them all or leave them in peace. The Muslim passengers loaned their Islamic face coverings to Christian women and hid other Christians behind bags…”
If this account is accurate then it demonstrates the brave actions of good people who have shown themselves to have risen above the narrow ‘ingroup/outgroup’ focus of traditional Islamic beliefs.
westcoastjohnny says
Yes, just like in the book/film “The Pianist” the Nazi officer’s actions in helping the Jew who is hiding in the ruins is a triumph of his humanity over an evil ideology. Who would use it to defend Nazism? But I bet many will use the Muslims on the bus (again if the details are correct) to defend Islam.
gravenimage says
Exactly so. This is some Muslims refusing to apply the savagery of their foul creed. I’m surprised they weren’t killed by Al Shebaab as apostates.
matt b says
The only part of the Shahada Muslims should believe are the first four words.
“There is no God” …….
gravenimage says
Kenya: Muslims murder bus driver who couldn’t recite Islamic profession of faith
………………………..
How common *is this*? Jihadists have done this many times in Kenya and Nigeria–and it may well be coming to the West, as well.
Baucent says
I read this story on another news site and seems to be genuine. What was also mentioned was that since the attack on the university last year when 100 or more Christian students were killed, hundreds of Christian professionals, doctors, nurses, teachers had left this northern corner of Kenya. The loss of services to the muslim community was having an adverse effect and probably another reason the local muslims had reason to protect the Christians. Whatever the motivation it should be recognized and praised. It is an example that not all muslims are evil killers.
gerard says
“not all muslims are evil killers.”
Not all muslims are real muslims. Thankfully.
Baucent says
Not all muslims even know that they aren’t.
mortimer says
Low IQ inbred savages with their heads stuck in the 7th century.
Who needs any of them?
Singh the Sikh says
Thankfully most survived, but not to be forgotten that one was chased down and killed like a dog by jihadist scum. Just a poor bus conductor, doing the daily grind, most likely surviving on meagre wages, with dependents. Quite likely he wasn’t expecting to die when he started his day. The killings have become so regular, it is easy to overlook that every single life is precious. The first reaction is, ‘only one person died’.
It makes the blood boil, how Jihadists feel they can take anyone’s life with impunity. Innocent people going about their normal business being mowed down. Sanctity of life doesn’t mean a thing for the Jihadists. It is also losing some meaning for the rest of humanity.
Every single life is precious, and every unnecessary death needs to be condemned. The outrage needs to be palpable, followed up by concrete action, with zero tolerance for those who incite such behaviour, and make excuses for them afterwards.
Cecilia Ellis says
Singh, your poignant comment merits a response: “Thank you for honoring the life of that bus driver.”
TheDane says
It is odd to hear myself even saying this, but I find myself more and more pro the use of nuclear weapons in some regions in Africa and the Middle East. It seems that it really can become necessary to make use of weapons that can cut down the number – in large quantities – of those that kill others for the ‘fun’ of it.
afrostreetwise says
Urgh! Now i know Allah is some evil force- not merely an idealogy. How else can one explain jihad watchers being so easily taken in by this takkya? Was there a single christian interviewed by the media at that time? The area governer cooked it up for the media and, just as in the west, they were overly eager to glorify the muslims. The terrorists simply mistook the lorry for kdf and sprayed bullets and run away before the could complete there operations on the bus. Plus, there appears to have been very few christians in the bus- the area being predominantly muslim and alshabab infested. After all the media lapped the takkya nonsense, our president joined the band wagon.
Jay Boo says
ungrateful Muslims — did not see that coming
Kenya reportedly has the largest refugee camp in the world according to a interview with the author of “City of Thorns” on NPR today.
The author explains away obvious conclusions with wishful fantasy then offers up dubious reasons for the strange stories of suspicious characters who happen to be Muslim.
“City of Thorns” book
http://www.amazon.com/City-Thorns-Worlds-Largest-Refugee/dp/1250067634
Cecilia Ellis says
“Kenya reportedly has the largest refugee camp in the world . . . ”
Soon to be overtaken by Dearborn, Michigan . . .
Angemon says
Still far behind Sweden.