By Andrew Kariuki |
Survivors and families of victims of the 1998 Nairobi U.S. Embassy bombing have renewed their call for justice and compensation, 27 years after the tragic attack that claimed 213 lives and left more than 5,000 others injured.
In a statement released on November 6, 2025, by the Consortium of 7th August 1998 Victims, the group issued a heartfelt appeal to President William Ruto and U.S. President Donald J.
Trump to finally deliver justice and compensation to the victims and survivors of the attack, which remains one of the deadliest acts of terrorism on Kenyan soil.
The consortium noted that while American victims were compensated under the U.S. Victims of Terrorism Act, Kenyan survivors and bereaved families have never received any form of compensation despite nearly three decades of petitions, court cases and official appeals.
They emphasized that their call was not merely about financial payment, but about restoring dignity, acknowledging the pain endured, and safeguarding the future of affected generations still living with the scars of that dark day.
The victims expressed disappointment that no Kenyan president since Daniel arap Moi has directly addressed the issue of compensation or visited the Memorial Park, urging President Ruto to end years of silence and take decisive action.
They also lauded the judiciary for handling ongoing cases linked to the attack and said they await a judgment that could deliver long-overdue justice.
At the same time, the group applauded the Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee on Bomb Blast Compensation, chaired by Senator Agnes Kavindu, for its efforts but decried the government’s failure to act on its recommendations.
They noted that the committee’s report has remained stalled at the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs for over a year.
The victims further called on President Ruto to publicly commit to resolving the compensation matter and to raise the issue with U.S. officials during the anticipated visit of the U.S. Vice President later this month, comparing it to his public engagement with the Gen Z protests earlier in the year.
For nearly three decades, survivors said they have endured poverty, trauma and neglect, with many families left destitute and children dropping out of school. Some victims have died before seeing justice and the consortium warned the public against fraudulent individuals or groups falsely claiming to represent the victims.
The consortium reaffirmed itself as the only legitimate body representing those affected by the 1998 tragedy, urging both governments to recognize their plight and act without further delay.
“Let this be the moment when our pain is acknowledged, our dignity restored, and our future secured,” the consortium stated in its closing appeal.
The U.S. Embassy bombing on August 7, 1998, remains one of the darkest chapters in Kenya’s history, with victims still seeking closure and recognition 27 years later.
