We lost Sh2bn in Westgate attack, says Nakumatt

These were the words Mr Atul Shah, the managing director of Nakumatt Holdings, which was one of the many multi-million businesses affected by the Westgate terrorist attack last weekend. Photo/WILLIAM OERI 

By SAMUEL BORN MAINA
More by this Author

An estimated Sh2 billion was lost in damages through fire at the Nakumatt Supermarket during the recent Westgate Mall terrorist attack, the owners said Thursday.

Nakumatt Holdings managing director Atul Shah said the supermarket had more than Sh1.3 billion worth of stock on the shelves when the terrorists hit.

The supermarket also had more than Sh400 million worth of furniture, he added.

“What is inside is terrible; it is only ashes. Everything is burnt; the only thing remaining is a couple of shelves,” he said. (VIDEO: Westgate Mall aftermath)

Mr Shah questioned the manner in which the recovery operation was carried out.

“On Monday evening we knew everything was contained and we were ready to go in with our team to try and salvage anything that was remaining,” he said.

“But on Tuesday we heard a loud bang. We want to know what happened. The shop is in ashes, nothing was recovered.”

More than 67 people died and hundreds others injured during the attack three weeks ago.

PROGRESS

Mr Shah however noted there was good progress in communication between Nakumatt and the government on the matter.

“It is good that the minister is open to us; we are asking the government a number of questions concerning when the building will be given back to its owners; when will be the remaining part of the building be stable for occupancy?

“How will the government assist those who have lost property inside the mall? We want to know the truth. What was the reason for the fire, why did the building collapse? We are told there were only four terrorists; we need to know the truth,” Mr Shah said.

He added that Nakumatt did not retrieve the CCTV surveillance cameras at the mall, but police took what was left of them and were trying to get the footage.

“We were told they got burnt into ashes. Our CCTV was on site, nothing was off site. We have not been told anything, but I hope the footage will be recovered,” he said.

He added that it was hard for him to conclusively say the shop was looted.

RESTORATION

On Thursday, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Commerce Phyllis Kandie said her ministry had started plans for the rapid restoration of the mall.

She said the ministry would establish a team comprising Westgate Mall stakeholders to consider and advise on specific measures that government and other parties would jointly take to restore the mall.