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Kenyan bomb blasts spark #someonetelluhurukenyatta Twitter trend

By , Editor, ITWeb Africa
Kenya , 05 May 2014

Kenyan bomb blasts spark #someonetelluhurukenyatta Twitter trend

Deadly bomb blasts on the weekend in Kenya have sparked outrage on Twitter, as Kenyans ask what their president, Uhuru Kenyatta, is doing to curb escalating terror attacks in the country.

On Saturday, four people were killed in the coastal holiday town of Mombasa when attackers threw an explosive device at passengers at a bus station. The attackers also targeted a luxury hotel.

On Sunday, another attack followed as Reuters reports that three people were killed when two buses driving on a Nairobi highway were struck by explosive devices.

No-one has taken responsibility for the attacks, but speculation is rife that it could be the work of Somali militant group al Shabaab.

Last year, al Shabaab attackers stormed an upmarket Nairobi shopping mall, killing dozens while injuring over one hundred.

The group said it attacked the shopping mall because of Kenya’s involvement in an African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Somalia that is fighting off the likes of al Shabaab.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has left for a trip to Nigeria on the weekend, has condemned the attacks while pledging support for the victims’ families.

Kenyan users of social media network Twitter; though, have been critical of Kenyatta as the hashtag #someonetelluhurukenyatta has become the country’s top trending topic on Monday.

Tatiana, or ‏@IanaTatiana on Twitter, tweeted, “Am realy afraid to walk in d (sic) streets of nairobi.am afraid of public transport , I miss the Kenya i once knew #SomeoneTellUhuruKenyatta.”

Another Twitter user, Mullei or ‏@mulleimutua, tweeted, “#SomeoneTellUhuruKenyatta if he doesn't act, Kenyans will. Impeachment Mr. President!”

In a twist, the #someonetelluhurukenyatta trend has also been morphed from a previous hot trending topic on Twitter in Kenya last week: that of #someonetellsouthafrica.

Last week, South African sports minister Fikile Mbalula sparked outrage on Twitter among Kenyans after he said that South Africa would not be like Kenya and send athletes to the Olympics to "drown in the pool".

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