New Delhi/Ahmedabad, Jan 2 : today said that the Indian community in Kenya is not being targeted in particular.

"I admit there has been damage to property in Kenya, but I must add here that Indians are not being targeted specifically," Sharma said.

"Violence is taking place there and Indians living out there are also suffering. But the people living in Mombasa and other such places are being provided with aid," he added.

Meanwhile, priests in Ahmedabad held mass prayers for the restoration of peace in Kenya, which witnessed post election violence and has a large India diaspora.

Expressing concern over the grim situation faced by the Gujarati community in Kenya, Swami Prashant Swaroop Das said, "Ever since the post election riots broke out rival groups have got a chance to attack Gujaratis once again. Our temple authorities are providing food shelter and other basic facilities as well as proper safety measures. We have also arranged a special vehicle to shift the riot-hit to our temple."

Ever since post-election riots broke out in Kenya, the Gujarati diaspora has been living in fear. Hundreds of Gujarati businessmen have taken shelter in a temple in the Kenyan town of Kisumu. Offices and factories belonging to Gujaratis had been looted and their houses attacked by residents.

With defeated Kenyan presidential challenger Raila Odinga sticking to his guns after an allegedly rigged election and freshly re-elected President Mwai Kibaki vowing to assert his authority, the east African nation is locked in a crippling crisis.

Scores of people were killed and several thousand have fled after President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner in a disputed election. The estimated death toll has risen to about 250 till today.

There are about 43,000 Gujaratis in Nairobi and about 3,000 in Kisumu. (ANI)