Win for Terror Attack Victims After 20-Year Struggle
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has established a dedicated desk to manage matters about the 1998 Bombing Attack survivors.
Mutua acknowledged that he was aware of the complaints lodged by the survivors and families of the Kenyan victims and promised to lobby American legislators to take up the issue when he attended the September 2023 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit in New York.
Mutua concurred with the senator that the payment was long overdue.
“American legislators must modify their laws to compensate our people. So, we must engage in extensive lobbying. Mutua stated, “As Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the ball is in my court, and I’m ready to play.”
CS Mutua stated that he will collaborate with legislators to ensure that the survivors are relieved of the burden they have been bearing.
According to the CS, the desk is crucial, particularly given that the survivors have been unsuccessfully knocking on the doors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for over two decades.
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He lamented that neither the Kenyan nor the American governments had agreed to compensate the survivors for the negative effects of the tragic event.
The Senators, headed by Committee Chair and Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu, reaffirmed the urgency of compensating the victims.
The Senators added that they are willing to assist the Ministry in any way necessary to ensure the survivors receive justice.
“The role of the Ministry comprises diplomacy, negotiation, conflict resolution, and humanitarian aid. All of these responsibilities are intended to further Kenya’s interests. “We will only achieve our people’s compensation if we work together,” Kavindu stated.
To expedite the procedure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the committee scheduled future meetings to debate strategies for gaining the support of their American counterparts.
During the 1998 terrorist attack on the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, more than 220 people tragically perished and a large number of others were severely injured.
Win for Terror Attack Victims After 20-Year Struggle
