President Obama on Friday denounced the massacre at a Kenyan university that left nearly 150 students dead.
“[First lady Michelle Obama and] I join the American people in expressing our horror and sadness at the reports coming out of Garissa, Kenya. Words cannot adequately condemn the terrorist atrocities that took place at Garissa University College, where innocent men and women were brazenly and brutally massacred,” Obama said. “We join the world in mourning them, many of whom were students pursuing an education in the pursuit of a better life for themselves and their loved ones. They represented a brighter future for a region that has seen too much violence for far too long.”
Somali militants stormed the school in eastern Kenya Thursday morning, specifically targeting the Christian students to kill, authorities said. The college is known for a diverse collection of students, including non-Muslims.
The White House said Obama spoke with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta Friday by phone to express his condolences. Before the attacks, Obama this week announced he would visit Kenya, his father’s birthplace, in July for the first time as president.
“I know firsthand the extraordinary resilience and fundamental decency of the people of Kenya,” Obama said. “We will stand hand-in-hand with the Kenyan government and people against the scourge of terrorism and in their efforts to bring communities together.”
