NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 23 — Kenya has called for a coordinated global response to tackle terrorism while condemning Friday’s terrorist attack in Russia’s capital, Moscow that left at least 60 dead and over 100 wounded as ‘barbaric and senseless.”

The assault unfolded when at least four gunmen clad in camouflage gear stormed the Crocus City Hall in the north-west suburb of Krasnogorsk and shot discriminately at concertgoers before detonating explosives in the venue.

Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, denounced the attack, stating that it contradicts “all fundamental principles of our shared humanity.”

Mudavadi who doubles up as Prime Cabinet Secretary assured Russia of Kenya’s solidarity saying “Kenya strongly and unequivocally condemns this atrocious act and stands with you in mourning the loss of innocent lives”.

Kenya suffered a similar terrorist attack when masked gunmen attacked the Westgate Shopping Mall, on September 21, 2013, carried out by the Somalia-based Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist outfit Al-Shabaab.

Mudavadi termed terrorist “unjustifiable and inexcusable” acts of terrorism.

“They [Terrorism] are an assault on humanity’s collective moral consciousness.”

Mudavadi wished for the swift recovery of all affected by this “vile” act.

Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, expressed similar sentiments condemning the attack as “horrendous and senseless.”

“We condemn this horrendous and senseless attack on civilians and urge greater international cooperation and coordination in the fight against terrorism,” he said Saturday.

Korir noted that a “fragmented and unravelling global order only aids the machinations of perpetrators of terror.”

The Islamic State, a transnational Salafi jihadist has since claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack according to the BBC, but Russia has yet to comment on the attack.

The United States had warned Russian authorities earlier in March about the possibility of an attack in Moscow.

US alert

On March 7, the US Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert warning its citizens to “avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.”

“The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours,” read the notice which advised its citizens to “avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and  aware of your surroundings.”

Other foreign missions had also advised its citizens to exercise vigilance over the threat.

The attack came at a time when Russia is engaged in a full-scale war with Ukraine.

While some quarters pointed fingers at Kyiv as being behind the attack, Ukraine has distanced itself from the attack.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly shut down the claims saying “Ukraine certainly has nothing to do with the shooting/explosions in the Crocus City Hall (Moscow Region, Russia).”

“It makes no sense whatsoever,” he added.

Podolyak reiterated that everything in its war with Russia “will be decided only on the battlefield.”

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