Premium
1998 US Embassy bomb victims to know their fate in January
An aerial view shows the aftermath of the bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi on August 7, 1998.
Victims of the 1998 US Embassy terror attack, which left over 200 people dead, including 12 Americans, walked out of the Milimani High Court heartbroken and disappointed after the judgment of their long-awaited compensation case was put off to next year.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi said he needed more time to review the pleadings and consider the evidence before rendering a final decision.
“I ask for your patience. I will give this judgment the time it deserves,” he assured.
The judgment had been scheduled for November 6, 2025.
A large crowd of survivors, relatives, and members of the public had streamed into the court in anticipation of the much-awaited decision.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi.
However, Justice Mugambi informed the victims that due to the complexity and sheer size of the files, it was not possible to deliver a well-reasoned opinion. He said he needs time to comb through the documents.
“The files have been with me but I could not cope. It is huge. I need sufficient time to go through all the documents thoroughly,” he stated.
Added the judge, “If I give you a date in this month or December, it will not be possible to write a well thought decision due to time frame. A new date must be in January 2026,” Justice Mugambi said.
He set January 15, 2026, as the new judgment date.
The judge advised the victims and their families to liaise with their legal representatives for further guidance on attendance. The majority of the victims expressed disappointment, having waited for 27 years to get justice.
The expected decision stems from the August 7, 1998, bombing of the United States Embassy in Nairobi. The coordinated terrorist attack killed more than 200 people and injured over 5,000 others.
Most of the victims in Nairobi were workers at the Ufundi Sacco building, office staff, students, and pedestrians — going about their daily routines when the blast ripped through the Embassy and Ufundi Sacco Building.
At almost the same time, the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was equally attacked, killing 11 people and injuring at least 85. The coordinated twin attacks were later attributed to the Al-Qaeda terror group.
The survivors and families of the deceased have filed petitions seeking compensation.
Many have endured life-changing injuries, lost livelihoods, or spent years grappling with trauma and medical complications.
In August 2025, families and survivors marked the 27th anniversary of the tragedy with renewed calls for expedited legal resolution.
The victims have urged President William Ruto to raise the issue of their compensation with President Donald Trump’s administration when his Vice President JD Vance visits Kenya this November.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
