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Meg: 1998 bomb blast victims likely not to be compensated

Whitman said there are legal and other reasons the Americans are not able to do this.

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by HILDA MWENDE

News16 May 2024 - 08:19

In Summary


  • The August 7, 1998 bomb blast attack on the US Embassy in Kenya killed 213 people and injured more than 5,000 others.
  • Twelve Americans died in the attacks, including two CIA agents at the Nairobi embassy.
US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman.

The US Ambassador to Kenya has spoken about the compensation for the 1998 bomb blast victims.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday night, Whitman said there are legal reasons and other reasons the Americans are not able to do this.

Whitman said every new ambassador and every new administration looks at the issue.

"This has been an issue for 25 years. We are looking at it again, but it is probably not likely to happen," she said.

In October 2023, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said Kenyans who died in the attack were collateral damage since they were not the target.

"We (Kenyans) were hurt because we were hosting an American Embassy and the target was America and its embassy. In the process as collateral damage our people got caught up," Kindiki said.

The CS was responding to queries when he appeared before the Committee on Administration and National Security.

When asked why the Americans were compensated and not Kenyans, Kindiki said that US laws do not allow non-American citizens to get compensated.

However, the CS said the US argument could be weighed around because Kenyans were not the target but ended up being killed.

"The terrorist had no reason to hurt those people I dare say Kenya would not be hurt at all," Kindiki added.

The August 7, 1998 bomb blast attack on the US Embassy in Kenya killed 213 people and injured more than 5,000 others.

Twelve Americans died in the attacks, including two CIA agents at the Nairobi embassy.



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