25 Years Later, U.S. Embassy Bombing Survivors in Kenya Still Wait for Justice and Compensation

Nairobi, Kenya – August 7, 2025 — In a solemn and emotionally charged ceremony, survivors of the devastating 1998 U.S. embassy bombing gathered at the August 7th Memorial Park in Nairobi to honor the lives lost—and to demand long-overdue justice.

More than two decades after al-Qaeda terrorists detonated a massive truck bomb outside the U.S. embassy, killing over 200 people and injuring more than 5,000, survivors say they are still battling the physical, emotional, and economic aftermath—with little to no support from either the Kenyan or U.S. governments.

“We Have Been Forgotten”

Michael Nyakanga, who was working near the embassy at the time of the blast, told the crowd that he permanently lost his hearing and vision. “It’s like the world went silent and dark at the same time,” he said.

Simon Ayienda, who also survived the blast, now walks with difficulty, relying on crutches after sustaining severe leg injuries. “The pain didn’t end in 1998—it began then and never stopped,” he said.

Rose Kwamboka broke down as she described glass shards that pierced her body and the dozens of surgeries she’s undergone since. “It’s been 27 years of pain, not just in the body, but in the soul,” she said.

A Plea for Compensation and Dignity

Michael Macharia, chairperson of the Victims’ Association, decried the failure by both the Kenyan and U.S. governments to fulfill past promises of compensation. “We’ve met ministers, written letters, and knocked on embassy doors. But we’ve been forgotten,” he told reporters.

Many survivors now live in poverty, unable to work due to lasting injuries and trauma. “Some of us can’t even afford pain medication,” said Ali Mwadama, a former embassy driver who now suffers chronic back pain. “We served, we were injured, and we were left behind.”

Unmet Promises and International Injustice

The U.S. Congress has in the past passed legislation to compensate American victims of overseas terrorist attacks. However, non-American victims—including the majority of those killed and wounded in the Nairobi bombing—remain ineligible under current U.S. law.

In Kenya, successive administrations have expressed sympathy but failed to establish a fund or legislative mechanism to support survivors or their families.

“We are not asking for handouts,” said Macharia. “We are asking for justice—recognition, healthcare, and compensation for the lives that were destroyed that day.”

Beyond the Memorial

While the gathering marked yet another anniversary of Kenya’s worst terrorist attack, it also served as a national reckoning—a reminder that terrorism’s human cost doesn’t end with the explosion.

Survivors are now calling on President William Ruto’s administration to take concrete action: to formally petition the U.S. government, and to work with Parliament to create a dedicated compensation fund for victims of terrorism.

The Road Ahead

As Kenya continues to grapple with security threats from extremist groups like al-Shabaab, the voices of 1998’s survivors serve as a moral compass—demanding not only remembrance, but accountability.

“This isn’t just history,” said Kwamboka. “It’s our lives. And we’re still living with it.”