President Kenyatta pledges help as businesses count heavy losses

President Uhuru Kenyatta, flanked by Deputy President William Ruto, addressing the nation on the Mpeketoni attacks in Lamu County at State House, Nairobi, June 17, 2014. Photo/PSCU  

By MUGAMBI MUTEGI

In Summary

• Some of the firms that were affected include Equity Bank, Kenya Women Microfinance Bank Limited (KWFT) and Kenya Commercial Bank – whose branches were torched.
• Hotels, petrol stations and a police station were also burnt down during the Sunday night incident and so were more than 20 motor vehicles.
• President Uhuru Kenyatta Tuesday pledged that the government would support those “who lost their properties” and meet funeral expenses of those who had lost their lives.

Businesses ravaged by the Mpeketoni terror attack began coming to terms with their losses Tuesday with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) putting the damages at hundreds of millions of shillings.

 

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Some of the firms that were affected include Equity Bank, Kenya Women Microfinance Bank Limited (KWFT) and Kenya Commercial Bank – whose branches were torched.

Hotels, petrol stations and a police station were also burnt down during the Sunday night incident and so were more than 20 motor vehicles.

“Business losses incurred after the attack are in the hundreds of millions of shillings. The exact amount cannot be ascertained since businesses owners have not moved in to assess the damage,” said KNCCI Mombasa county branch chairman James Mureu.

KWFT managing director Mwangi Githaiga said the micro deposit taking firm had lost one of its six employees while another suffered broken limbs after jumping from a building to escape the attackers.

All surviving employees of branch, which has been in operation for eight years, have now been evacuated to Malindi.

“The branch has been closed down until further notice. We lost everything in the building including furniture,” said Mr Githaiga, who flew to the Coast to oversee the evacuation of his staff and organise for counselling.

“We have not had the opportunity to assess full extent of the damage to our branch but I think it will cost us over Sh10 million to repair it.” KWFT, which has two more branches in the region – at Hola and Garsen – says they will begin reconstruction once the area is secure.

“At the moment we cannot comment as the assessment with the insurance has not been done,” said Judith Odhiambo, head of corporate and regulatory affairs at KCB, adding that they did not lose any money.

“As of today, we have not been able to access the premises to assess the damage given the situation on the ground. Once this is done, then we can share the details.”

The branch, which had 15 members of staff, was serving up to 300 SMEs and personal banking customers daily while being supported by 23 agency branches. All employees, the bank said, are safe and have been evacuated from the area.

“Just by looking at photographs from the scene, you can tell that the loss is huge. Businesses are looking to the government to do something quickly to secure the area, which is still not considered safe,” Mr Mureu said.

Two bloody attacks in as many days left 63 people dead.

READ: Lamu attack: 63 dead, tourism under threat

The first attack on Sunday night occurred in Mpeketoni and left about 48 people dead.