1998 bomb blast victims axed from Sh77b compensation

By Rawlings Otieno and Lonah Kibet

Kenya: Families and victims of the 1998 bombings of the US embassy in Kenya have missed out compensation awarded by a US court for the atrocity.

The court awarded about $907 million (about Sh77 billion) to Tanzanian and American victims of the twin bombings, leaving out thousands of Kenyan victims.

Washington Judge John Bates in a ruling awarded the damages based on formulas that included Sh255 million for emotional injuries, Sh425 million for severe physical injuries, and Sh595 million or more for those blinded and made quadriplegics. 

The victims had sued the governments of Iran and Sudan under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act where they accused the governments of helping terrorists produce “calculated mayhem” that killed hundreds and injured thousands, according to a statement by Thomas Fortune Fay on Monday.

Some 224 people were killed in Kenya, including 12 Americans. Approximately 4,650 more were wounded.

Tuesday, the 1998 Bomb Blast Victims Association Chairman George Ngige said they had sued the US Government and the case is still before a Columbia State Judge in the US.

Mr Ngige said they want the US to pay the over 5,000 victims, some of who have passed on due to natural attrition while others are still living with disability, a sum of at least Sh85 million ($1 million) for each of the victims.

“We sued the US government to compensate the over 5,000 victims. Even if some have died, their families should be compensated. We want each victim to be paid at least Sh85 million,” said Ngige.

Speaking to The Standard on phone, he appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene if they are to get justice.

He conceded that majority of the victims have waited for justice to be served and wondered why their fellow victims in Tanzania and US have been paid yet Kenya had the biggest casualties.

“We are worried if our Government won’t help. I have written many letters to the President’s office but none has been replied,” said Ngige.

In the August 1998 attacks on embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, more than 224 people died, including 12 US citizens.

According to US media, Justice Bates in 2011 ruled that Iran and Sudan were liable for supporting the embassy attacks under the federal Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.

Following a three-day hearing in October 2010, Bates found that the Iranian and Sudanese governments provided material aid and support to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, who carried out the attacks.