Traders lost Sh900M in Westgate attack

 

An image grab taken from AFP TV shows Kenyan troops taking position on September 21, 2013 inside the Westgate mall in Nairobi. Kenyan troops were locked in a fierce firefight with Somali militants inside an upmarket Nairobi shopping mall on September 22 in a final push to end a siege that has left at least 59 dead and some 200 wounded with an unknown number of hostages still being held. Photo/AFP 

 

In Summary

• A public hearing on the rapid restoration of the Westgate shopping Mall will run from January 20-24 at Charter Hall in Nairobi.
• Recommendations will then be forwarded to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie for further action.
• 67 people were killed and over 200 others wounded during the terrorist attack in September 21 

 

By MIKE MWANIKI
More by this Author

Traders lost over Sh900million in the Westgate terror attack, a public hearing was told on Monday.

According to Ms Madeleine Ambrosino, her company--African Lily Enterprises--which dealt with leather accessories, incurred losses amounting to Sh700 million.

“Unfortunately, my business, which used to generate a monthly income of Sh2.5 million monthly, had no insurance cover against terrorism.

“However, I would like to be considered for compensation for loss of revenue following the attack which also affected my 11 employees,” Ms Ambrosino said on Monday.

She was speaking at Charter Hall in Nairobi during a public hearing on the rapid restoration of the Westgate shopping Mall. (READ: Team on Westgate invites public views)

67 people were killed and over 200 others wounded during the terrorist attack in September 21 last year.

BAGS DESTROYED

Another trader, Ms Beatrice Kemunto Mwasi, told the public hearing that her Senabora company lost 50 per cent of its stock during the attack.

“I incurred losses amounting to Sh259,000 after my stock of high quality leather bags were destroyed by smoke and bullets while others were stolen.

“I had stock valued at Sh400,000 in my business which I had set-up at the mall in 2009. However, it was not insured against terrorist attacks,” Ms Mwasi added.

The director said she is currently located at at Aqua Plaza but only five per cent of her clients are able to access the premises.

She added that her company requires at least Sh1.5 million to re-establish itself once the mall is reconstructed.

GIVE PROPOSALS

Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero, who is chairing the committee, said:

“The committee is also scrutinising memoranda on the losses incurred by the business owners and would therefore like to urge residents to give proposals on how best the affected businesses can be restored.”

Mr Jaffer Kassam, the Parklands/Highridge Ward County Representative, also urged investors to help traders restore their businesses at the mall.

“I would like the Westgate Mall to be reconstructed as soon as possible to enable those who lost their jobs be re-hired,” Mr Kassam said

The hearings that began on Monday will end on Friday and recommendations forwarded to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie on February 24 for further action.