Survivors remember dark day

“I was in the office doing my normal work when at 10am I heard the first blast. We at first thought it was a tyre burst,” said Mr Otieno.

Since the embassy was situated near one of Nairobi’s busiest junctions, the employees were used to the sound of tyre bursts.

What made Mr Otieno realise that things were not right was the second blast that tore through the embassy building.

“I did not know where I was and lost consciousness for a few minutes,” Mr Otieno recalls. Unfortunately, the blast had blinded the US embassy employee. “I heard people crying for help and I also called out.”

Luckily an American officer working at the embassy who survived the tragedy heard Mr Otieno’s cries and removed him from the rubble, leading him out of the building. Mr Otieno was taken to Nairobi Hospital, where he was admitted.

In the meantime, Mr Mimba, who had jumped over the embassy perimeter wall, decided to go back and help colleagues.