Why we should not accept or move on from the westgate attack

American premier cable network, HBO, released a powerful documentary, titled “Terror at The Mall”. It was supposed to be exclusively released to American audiences but like Miguna Miguna’s controversial book “Peeling Back the Mask”, industrious Kenyans made pirated copies available hours before the official release in US theatres.

Lest we forget, some stellar journalistic work was done by the “Jicho Pevu” crew of Mohammed Ali and John Allan Namu to debunk the diversionary tales of Internal Security minister, Joseph ole Lenku.

While the “Jicho Pevu” focus was more on the botched security operation and Kenyan Defence Forces’ hands on pilfering debacle, this new documentary offers fresh insight into what transpired over the first day of anguish. A British filmmaker, Dan Reed, got access to hours of footage which was cut and chopped to re-enact a blow by blow account of how the Westgate Mall invasion occurred in September 2013. Dan Reed also documented the Moscow and Mumbai terror attacks.

“Terror at the Mall” is a collection of security camera footage, press videos, cell-phone camera clips and still photography pieced together meticulously to replay an attack that left a city traumatised.  The footage is raw and story is told through the pained voices of the survivors interviewed.

Ruthless al-shabaab

What I found especially tragic was people bleeding to death as security officials argued over protocol outside the mall.  For three and a half hours, civilians, women and children were trapped, left at the mercy of four ruthless Al -Shabaab gunmen.

Dan Reed turns the spotlight on the selfless policemen and private citizens, every day heroes like Abdul Haji, who with only a hand gun marshalled a rescue operation that saved the lives of hundreds.

Post-Westgate security checks are now an accepted part of daily living. Every time one walks into a mall, past bored security guards with beeping metal detectors, the feeling of vulnerability remains apparent.

A week ago as candles were lit in memory of the fallen victims of the attack, there was much to ponder over. At a memorial at the Storymoja Festival, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka delivered a moving tribute to Ghanaian poet and author Kofi Awoonor, in a dedication summed up as “A tree felled in a concrete jungle”.

I imagined the hopelessness of those who were affected. So today, I light a candle for the forgotten victims of Tana River, Bungoma, Wajir, Mandera and Mpeketoni. May we not accept their deaths and move on.