Struggling to adjust despite the passage of time, survivors of the 1998 blast continue to feel overlooked.
In a poignant gathering at the August 7 Memorial Park in Nairobi, survivors and families of victims marked 27 years since the devastating 1998 US embassy bombing. The event, filled with prayer, memories, and a call for compensation that has gone unanswered for nearly three decades, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and support.
The bombing, which killed 224 people and injured over 5,000, mostly Kenyans, remains one of the worst terror attacks in the country's history. Michael Nyakanga, one of the survivors, was caught in the blast after visiting the Cooperative Bank with a friend. Nyakanga, who was injured in the eyes, has struggled since the attack despite initial help from the US and Kenyan governments. Another survivor, Simon Ayienda, was badly injured and lost his job, could not educate his children, and has lived in poverty since the bombing.
Rose Kwamboka, who was four months pregnant at the time, was inside a lift at the bank when the bombing occurred and was left with physical injuries and psychological trauma. The psychological toll has been just as heavy as the physical injuries for Rose, who said her life changed that day and she still lives with fear and trauma.
The survivors and families have largely not received effective, comprehensive compensation from either the Kenyan or US governments, despite ongoing advocacy and some legal progress related to US-based settlements. Kenya’s Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has renewed calls for structured and dignified compensation from the Kenyan government for survivors and families, highlighting their ongoing suffering and exclusion from compensation programs.
In the US legal context, there has been progress in obtaining compensation through court rulings against Sudan for its role in supporting al-Qaeda operatives behind the bombings. A $335 million settlement from Sudan was designated for victims and families affected by the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, the 2000 USS Cole attack, and related terrorist acts. However, the distribution favors US citizens, with provision made to address some inequities between birthright and naturalized citizens but still disadvantageous for foreign nationals such as Kenyan victims.
Ali Mwadama, the chairperson of the victims association, expressed frustration at how survivors have been neglected. "We heard about the Senate committee, but we have not seen any results. We will not stop asking. Even if we die, our children will continue the fight," Mwadama said. The report acknowledged that survivors continue to suffer and that a good percentage of them were breadwinners.
Last year, a Senate Ad-Hoc Committee tabled a report calling for support to the victims and urging the Kenyan government to lobby the US to expand compensation. Some progress has been made in US courts, with a lawsuit leading to the awarding of billions of shillings from Sudan and Iran, which were found to have supported al Qaeda. However, the issue remains unresolved with survivors still urgently seeking recognition, structured compensation, and long-term assistance.
Michael Macharia was only three years old when the bombing killed both his parents. Macharia, who was raised by relatives, has struggled. Despite arrests and prosecutions of some bombers in US courts, and a strong anti-terrorism stance by Kenyan authorities, survivors’ compensation remains incomplete and inadequate especially for Kenyans directly affected by the tragedy. The survivors continue to call for support, free medication, and compensation, stating they have waited too long and some have sadly passed. The fight for justice and compensation persists.
- The ongoing struggle for justice and support, highlighted at the memorial park, extends to the ongoing call for comprehensive compensation from both the Kenyan and US governments for survivors and families of the 1998 US embassy bombing victims.
- Rose Kwamboka, being pregnant at the time of the bombing, endured not only physical injuries but also substantial psychological trauma that still affects her daily life.
- The US legal context has seen progress in obtaining compensation through court rulings against Sudan for its role in supporting al-Qaeda operatives, yet this progress primarily favors US citizens, leaving foreign nationals, such as Kenyan victims, disadvantaged.
- Ali Mwadama, the chairperson of the victims association, voiced frustration over the neglect of survivors, promising that they will continue the fight for recognition, structured compensation, and long-term assistance, even if it extends beyond their lifetimes.
- The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee in Kenya tabled a report last year, calling for support to the victims and urging the Kenyan government to lobby the US for expanded compensation.
- The general-news landscape continues to emphasize the survivors' calls for support, free medication, and compensation, as they wait for the resolution of this unanswered demand after nearly three decades.
