Survivors of 1998 Nairobi bombing renew plea for justice, US compensation
Survivors say 27 years of silence and broken promises have deepened their pain, urging Presidents Ruto and Trump to finally deliver justice and dignity.
Survivors of the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Nairobi have renewed their plea for justice and compensation, 27 years after the deadly attack that claimed 213 lives and injured more than 5,000 others.
In a statement released on Thursday, the consortium of August 7, 1998 victims urged President William Ruto and US President Donald Trump to intervene and ensure long-overdue compensation for survivors and families of those who perished.
The group lamented that despite years of petitions and legal efforts, there has been no tangible compensation or official recognition.
"This is not merely about money," the victims said in their statement. "It is about restoring dignity, acknowledging our suffering, and safeguarding the future of generations still living with the scars of that dark day."
The consortium called for presidential recognition and action, noting that no Kenyan president has directly addressed the compensation issue since the late Daniel arap Moi visited the bomb memorial park. They urged President Ruto to "break this silence" and take up their cause.
Expedite rulings
While expressing gratitude to the Kenyan Judiciary for handling related cases, the group called for expedited rulings to deliver long-overdue justice.
They also commended the Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee on Bomb Blast Compensation, chaired by Senator Agnes Kavindu, but criticised the government for failing to act on the committee’s report, which has reportedly been pending for over a year at the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
The victims demanded an immediate presidential commitment, urging President Ruto to publicly commit to resolving the compensation issue and to raise it with US officials during the expected visit of the US Vice President in late November 2025.
The statement, signed by the consortium’s representative, Justus Kimathi, emphasised that many survivors continue to endure poverty, trauma, and neglect, while others have died waiting for justice.
"Families were left destitute, children dropped out of school, and the nation's conscience remains unsettled," the statement read.
The group also cautioned the public against "fraudulent individuals or groups" falsely claiming to represent victims, stressing that it remains the sole authentic body for those affected by the 1998 tragedy.
They concluded by urging both the Kenyan and US governments to acknowledge their pain, restore their dignity, and secure their future.
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