Nairobi August 7 bomb blast survivors yet to receive compensation

A man cries infront of a plaque with names of the victims of 1998 terrorist attack at the Bomb Blast Memorial Park Wednesday. [PHOTO: ALI ALALE/STANDARD]

By Caroline Rwenji

NAIROBI; KENYA: The August 7 bomb blast survivors have not received any compensation from the government 15 years after the tragedy.

The survivors claim the government had neglected them.

The 1998 blast killed 212 people and injured over 4,000 others.

The chairman of the August 7 Bomb Blast Victims Association, Mr George Ngige, noted that the American and Kenyan governments have not compensated the survivors.

He said two American law firms, through their partners in Kenya, volunteered to pursue their compensation but have since gone quiet.

“Since 2008, nothing has happened. The lawyers stopped communicating with us. They did not respond to my invite to today’s (yesterday’s) commemoration,” he said.

Victims poor

He expressed disappointment in the government for forsaking their own as medical bills and other expenses have rendered most victims poor.

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko assured the victims that the current government will look into their issues.

He promised to facilitate for lawyers who will pursue the case for the bomb blast victims and their families.

He told the blast victims that their representatives will meet President Uhuru Kenyatta to air their grievances.

The senator donated Sh300,000 as school fees for children of the victims of the blast.

Speaker of the County Assembly Alex Magelo said a lot of money was used in restoring the buildings brought down by the blast instead of addressing the plight of survivors.