Nairobi, Kenya — December 4, 2024-Kenyan victims of the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Nairobi are renewing their call for compensation, urging President-elect Donald Trump to prioritize their plight as he prepares to assume office.
Led by 72-year-old George Nginge, a survivor who suffered severe injuries in the attack, the victims voiced their frustrations during a press briefing in Nairobi on Tuesday. Nginge, who has spent 27 years lobbying unsuccessfully for reparations, appealed to Trump to intervene.
“We want to ask President-elect Trump to think about the American friends injured in the bombing and to push Congress to address compensation for Kenyan victims,” said Nginge. He recounted the life-altering impact of the attack, including losing his ability to walk without crutches and suffering devastating injuries to his genitals.
The 1998 bombing, which targeted the US Embassy on Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi, killed over 200 people and injured thousands, leaving survivors like Nginge facing ongoing physical and emotional pain. Despite numerous attempts to seek assistance, the victims say their efforts have been stonewalled by both the Kenyan and US governments.
“Every time we approach government offices, we are met with sympathy but no action. The US Embassy even told us the issue lies with our own government,” Nginge added.
The survivors, now represented by Kituo Cha Sheria, a Kenyan legal aid organization, have turned to the courts for help. Nginge stressed that the victims’ suffering should align with Trump’s globalist policies and his slogan of “Making America Great Again.”
Legal discussions regarding compensation for victims in Kenya and Tanzania have intermittently surfaced in the US Congress, but no resolution has been reached.
The victims also criticized the Kenyan government for failing to advocate effectively on their behalf. “Our government has done so little for us. We feel abandoned,” said Nginge.
As the victims approach three decades without compensation, they hope that renewed advocacy efforts, coupled with Trump’s incoming administration, will bring their grievances closer to resolution
This marks yet another chapter in the victims’ long fight for justice and compensation, a struggle that continues to weigh heavily on their lives.