Tale of Bomb Blast survivor who was left blind, destitute

Catherine Bwire will forever remember August 7, 1998 as the day when devastation of the terror attack at the US embassy in Nairobi changed her life to a point of no return.

Bwire, who was then seven months pregnant with her now 25-year-old daughter, Jean Bahati, was rendered blind in the attack. “I’m filled with sadness since mum has never seen me due to her condition. It’s even worse that a person who used to pay my fees has herself been reduced to a dependent,” said Bahati, who also suffers from eye problems.

“We have been tested to the limit by the circumstances that led to our disability but in as much as this is too bitter to fathom we leave all things to God.”

During the fateful Friday, gruesome scenes from the blast were the order of the day with passengers in public service vehicles outside the embassy incinerated in their seats amidst shattered cars smoldering in the street.

Bleeding survivors

As all this was happening, bleeding survivors, including Bwire, were lying on the ground pleading for help.

Bwire spoke as she joined hundreds of survivors in marking Memorial Day in Nairobi yesterday. Caroline Muthoka Consortium of August 1998 victims consortium emphasised victims and survivors were not mere numbers but family, neighbours, colleagues and citizens. Ramona Tascoe, a doctor and lobbyist pushing for compensation of all the Kenyan survivors, said she remained confident that all victims will be compensated.

“I will continue to fight for you, that is my solemn promise, and please find mercy and forgiveness for the Americans who are offering an apology,” she said.

Former envoys Prudence Bushnell, Robert Godec and current ambassador Meg Whitman expressed their solidarity with Kenya in recorded remarks.

The trio shared lessons from the blast and hailed the August 7th Memorial Park as a beacon of hope, and resilience.

 A section of Azimio la Umoja leaders who were present called on the Kenyan and the American governments to work together to compensate victims.

Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua said victims have waited for compensation for 25 years now since the terror attack.

“A time has come when the two governments must sit together and see what can be done.

It is not enough to say the matter is in court. Both governments have a responsibility; it has been said that Kenya took a bullet on behalf of the US,”  Karua said. 

In her opinion, giving the families compensation will allow them to have closure over what happened to their loved ones.

However, she noted that some support was given to the survivors and families of victims. “The support came from the USAid for 173 families, but I am also aware that there has been an ongoing battle in the USA court for compensation of victims who are non-Americans. I am more aware of the Kenyan case,” she said.

Karua said the two countries, being friends, can do something to expedite the compensation programme. “It is better late than never. It is not enough to say the matter is in court,” she said.

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka reiterated Karua’s call.

“I agree with my sister Martha, the time to bring closure is now,” Kalonzo said.

Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugine Wamalwa said as the country remembers victims of the attack, they ought to get compensation

“We also remember victims of Police terror in recent anti-tax protests who are still in hospital or burying their dead and crying for justice. Let our guns remain focused on the terrorists, not our citizens,” Wamalwa said.

The Senate Ad-hoc committee pushing for the compensation of the victims attended the commemoration service where Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu said they will be going to US in September.

 Kavindu, in a motion set to be approved by the House, will be supporting the eligibility of Kenyan and American victims and their personal representatives, surviving spouses and next of kin in the Victim Compensation Fund.