In memory of those caught up in Westgate Mall attack

Scenes at Westgate Mall on September 21 soon after terrorists had stormed the facility and started shooting civilians.  [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By Machua Koinange

KENYA: September 21, exactly a month ago today (Monday), was a sunny afternoon; a perfect day out for friends and families.

The Westgate Mall was a beehive of activities. Some people were having lunch, others coffee or wine.

A good number were shopping at the tens of businesses in the establishment.

And to complete this ‘perfect day’, there was a cooking competition on the rooftop of the shopping centre.

Westgate had a reputation for being lavish, a domain for the rich, diplomats and expatriates.

In a country that harbours the unknown contrast between the rich, middleclass, expatriates and the poor, Westgate was the perfect mosaic.

Then, this was one of the most-secure places, having the advantage of intrusive security.

However, for the terrorists, it was the perfect place to strike.

When the four terrorists unleashed their diabolical intentions, men, women and children scampered for safety. The terrorists’ bullets, however, snuffed out the lives of others — at least 67. When it was finally over on Tuesday, we all wailed in disbelief at the loss of so many.

Bodies locked in a last minute embrace of an unexpected goodbye under a hail of gunfire. The accounts are just too chilling to recount.

They included lawyers, cleaners, waiters, shop attendants, doctors, architects, social activists, police officers, radio presenter and children.

 Turned into tomb

The scene at Westgate was as macabre as you can imagine. The once plush mall had been turned into a tomb.

Images of those terrifying hours inside the mall will remain enshrined in our hearts forever.

The woman, who laid flat on the floor clutching her children; the wailing mother standing outside the mall with her two children and a gunshot wound to her leg; the rescued woman on a shopping trolley being taken to an ambulance and the Good Samaritan who carried a woman with his hands and the little girl who had the bravado to run towards the arms of a waiting rescuer holding a gun.

Our hearts are heavy, but we must heal quickly.

There is a rainbow in the beckoning distance.

Where there is tragedy, we clasp our neighbour’s hand and give them a comforting hug. We hold our children tighter at night and show our affection.

Privilege and honour

The dark clouds and smell of death that hung over Westgate were slowly washed away by our solidarity.

Every inch of shattered glass, every howl of wind, every tile of bloodied floor, every shade of grass and every aisle of an empty supermarket at the mall is now sacred ground.

Those who died will forever be ingrained in our aching hearts. Their laughter, their affection, their love and zest for life and more importantly the beauty they brought to our lives for the period that we had the privilege and honour of their company.

Let’s be joyful for the time we had with them. Finally, let’s celebrate the one thing they gave us, that we will miss forever and the one thing they will always deserve — beautiful memories.

In our moment of prayer and silence, remember those who were caught up in the Westgate massacre.