Westgate lessons: The rich should reciprocate by reaching out to the poor

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since that fateful Saturday morning incident on 21^st September 2013, except for recovering traumatized victims and those who still grieve the loss of their irreplaceable breadwinners. Mainly because as much as it was the highest display of inhumanity, many other incidences of the same kind have occurred with little accountability from responsible authorities. We have been forced to get used to hopeless tear-washed faces as mass graves are dug to burry people who were otherwise going about their businesses, but had life cut short due to inter-clan wars or unabated terrorist attacks.

Kenyan Unity

However, one notable thing is how Kenyans typically forgot their everyday differences to overwhelmingly donate resources in kind and cash. In almost all county headquarters and major towns of the republic, long lines of resilient blood donors were seen almost throughout the day, until the blood bank could hold no more, and the exercise requested to halt. The donors didn't mind the recipient; whether rich or poor. But we all know the rich suffered more in the siege. Sh142 million was collected in a 10-day funds drive, both from proverbial shallow and deep pockets. The hospitality industry came in by donating food and drinks to those who were either injured, grieving or involved in the fight to smoke out the terrorists out of the building. Licensed gun holders risked life to free as many hostages as possible before the terrorists settled in the building. Truly, Kenyans became one. I am certain that those who could not afford any donations offered prayers for the victims and relatives. But who made the first step towards the other, considering social class? Methinks the poor did it. They only needed a call to act. As shall be seen later in this article, the rich rarely listen to the cries of the poor, even when on literal sickbed!

Hardest Hit

For an incident that occurred at a high-end shopping facility like WestGate, it would be incorrect to assume that the low social class suffered as much losses in property and life as the able high class. Only with the exception of those who, unfortunately on the fateful day, were working there as security personnel and other junior service roles in shops and retail outlets. Judging by a majority of those who were interviewed, I opine that most of those who suffered huge losses of life, loved ones and property were those of high social class.