Wounds still bleeding: Nearly three decades after the 1998 Kenya bomb blast

Ruth Gitu was only 18 when her world changed forever. On August 7, 1998, a devastating bomb blast outside the US Embassy in Nairobi killed her mother and more than 200 others.

In that single moment, Ruth was thrust into adulthood, becoming a parent to her five siblings.

Her mother had recently graduated from KCITI College in Eastleigh and was on her way to pick up her academic documents. She also had an appointment at the US Embassy.

But fate had other plans. Caught in traffic, in a bus just metres from the epicenter of the explosion, Gitu's mother never made it out alive.

The tragedy forced Gitu to drop out of school in Form 3, as education became a secondary concern.

Her priority became caring for her siblings and her widowed father.

Still determined to finish her education, she later registered as a private candidate and sat for her KCSE exams.

After completing her education, Ruth immersed herself in community service, mentoring young people in life skills and self-awareness. Yet, the pain of loss and injustice continues to haunt her.

For the past 27 years, she has fought tirelessly for justice for her mother and more than 4,000 victims and survivors of Kenya’s first major terrorist attack.

Every 7th of August, Ruth meets with other survivors under the Consortium of August 7th Bomb Blast Victims, a network of 30 leaders representing different groups affected by the tragedy.

They meet for prayers, support and updates on their long and painful fight for justice.

Their mission is simple but urgent: to secure recognition and compensation for victims and survivors of the 1998 bomb blast.

“We have never healed. Even the counselling we received was experimental. The country did not know how to offer therapy for bomb blast victims. The counsellors were scared, untrained. It didn’t help us,” Gitu said during an exclusive interview with the Star.

Many victims were left with lifelong physical and psychological scars.

They had to pay for their own treatments, often exhausting their meagre earnings.

Children dropped out of school. Survivors became unable to work due to trauma and injury, were left to fend for themselves.

The consortium has stepped in to seek goodwill and support from various ministries.

It now offers welfare support, including help during illness and bereavement. Occasionally, they fundraise to pay school fees for children orphaned by the blast.

“Victims are dying without justice. We just recently had to raise money for funeral expenses for one of the children who lost a parent in the attack," said Kimathi,m chairperson of the consortium. “

Their fight for justice has taken them to various government offices since 2013, including the Office of the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs and the Head of Public Service.

But progress has been painfully slow and many victims have died along the way.

Mike Kittivo, who was in Cooperative House during the blast, says that while more than 200 people died that fateful day, many more have died since. This is due to neglect and untreated health conditions caused by the blast.

“Our needs span from healthcare to loss of livelihoods. It’s a complex web of suffering. That’s why we came together, to form a united front," he says.

The group has written to the international community, including the US government, which has compensated only those who worked within the embassy.

Kenyan victims, many of whom were civilians caught in nearby buildings, public transport or walkways, have been left behind.

“We’ve engaged the Ministries of Health, Interior and Diaspora Affairs. We’re seeking a direct audience with the Head of State,” he said.

Survivors have long been told that private citizens cannot sue the US government for compensation. This legal barrier has left many feeling helpless.

While they have pursued diplomatic channels, their efforts have often been met with silence or deflection.

A flicker of hope emerged when Caroline Muthoka, the consortium’s international coordinator, convinced Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu to take the matter to the Kenyan Senate.

An ad-hoc committee was formed a resolution directing the Kenyan government to send representatives to lobby the US Congress for compensation was passed more than a year ago.

Yet, since that resolution, no concrete action has followed.

The consortium’s patron, George Ngige, remains one of its most vocal advocates.

Alongside others, he now awaits a court ruling expected later this year, one that could determine whether the Kenyan government will finally take responsibility and offer support for the victims’ years of suffering.

A case that was graciously taken by the only firm that listened to the US bomb blast victims, Kituo Cha Sheria.

For the survivors and the families of those lost, the journey has been long and painful. And as time drags on, the old adage rings painfully true:

Justice delayed is justice denied.