Kenya attack: #147NotJustaNumber remembers victims; shares their stories, dreams

As Kenyans mourned 148 people killed by Somalia's Al Shaabab militants at a campus of Garissa Unversity College on Thursday, citizens used social media to share their grief and paid tribute using the hashtag #147notjustanumber.

Kenya on Sunday began three days of national mourning for the 148 people massacred by Somalia's Al Shaabab militants at a university. The authorities have identified one of the gunmen as a smart law graduate.

To give the victims the respect the they deserve and to make sure they did not just become a number, Ory Okolloh, a Kenyan woman created a hashtag on Twitter: #147notjustanumber.

In the tweet she said, " We will name them. One by one. They are these "young Africans" we speak of all the time. Chasing dreams.

We will name them. One by one. They are these "young Africans" we speak of all the time. Chasing dreams. #147notjustanumber

— Ory Okolloh Mwangi (@kenyanpundit) April 4, 2015

Using social media, citizens shared the pain of the loss of young lives with stories and dreams of victims'

R.i.p Jackline Kathure Akwalu, she was a hope to the family. Her dream to impact lives was taken away by a bullet #147notjustanumber

— christine murithi (@tinakmurithi) April 5, 2015

147 bullet holes. 147 stolen lives. 147 open wounds 147 bereaved families. #147notjustanumber pic.twitter.com/H3w2anYdOU

— Schea Of Sheba (@scheafferoo) April 5, 2015

#147notjustanumber as I retweet and favourite I can't stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks. So young.They didn't deserve this #NoMore

— Esther Passaris, OGW (@EstherPassaris) April 5, 2015

Compare world reactions to #CharlieHebdo and #GarissaAttack. All lives matter. #147notjustanumber #AfricanLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/mw9tiiFb7C

— Freja Wedenborg (@FrejaWedenborg) April 5, 2015

The twitterati also identified the victims by posting their photos and shared with the world who they are and what they meant to their closed ones.

#147notjustanumber Maggie, Tobias, Janet, Mary, Alex, Mose, Angela, Doreen, Laban, Isaac, Selpher, Gideon, Priscilla, Peter #TheyHaveNames

— Tchonté P.M. Silué (@LoukiGirl) April 6, 2015

This is Tobias, he died in #GarissaAttack; to us he's not a number, he's a son, bro, friend. #147notJustANumber pic.twitter.com/dUSLXnCv9V

— Mr. B (@Benogola) April 5, 2015

This KDF Soldier Solomon Oludo was someone I knew personally. We honor your life & sacrifice. #147NotJustANumber pic.twitter.com/h7Kx92tdi8

— Prime Mate (@mycallmichael) April 4, 2015

These bright young brothers and sisters were our future. No, #147notjustanumber pic.twitter.com/DI0vVSjCsd

— Tom Vandenbosch (@TVandenbosch) April 4, 2015

The young man in white died in the attack, his government could not protect him #147notjustanumber pic.twitter.com/jwjzK70lkV

— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) April 4, 2015

1) @Maskani254: Miss Garissa University Mary Muchiri Shee #147notjustanumber pic.twitter.com/7CSwOox1l0”

— Laurence Parisot (@LaurenceParisot) April 5, 2015

RIP Angela 'Ka/Jojo' Kimata. We will name them one by one. #147notjustanumber #TheyHaveNames via @GhekoLishous pic.twitter.com/Yj4sgL9qfT

— Tom Vandenbosch (@TVandenbosch) April 5, 2015

The day-long siege of Garissa University was Kenya's deadliest attack since the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi, and the bloodiest by Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to respond to the attack by al Shabab militants on Garissa University “in the severest way possible”.