US Secretary of State John Kerry visits 1998 bombing site, consoles survivors
US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to survivors of the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi at the August 7th Memorial Park. Mr Kerry said the terrorists who attacked the embassy in 1998 “lost utterly.” PHOTO | AGGREY MUTAMBO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
US Secretary of State John Kerry Monday consoled the survivors of the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi.
Speaking at the August 7th Memorial Park in Nairobi, Mr Kerry, who arrived in Kenya from Sri Lanka on Sunday, said the terrorists who attacked the embassy in 1998 “lost utterly.”
“Let me be clear: the terrorists who struck on August 7th 1998 failed utterly in their purpose.
"They failed for the same reason that terrorists will always fail,” he said.
He said the aim of the terrorists was to instil fear in the hearts of Kenyans.
“We do not have the power to reverse the fact that people lost their lives, but we have the power to fight back,” said Mr Kerry.
He talked with some of the survivors of the bombing which claimed the lives of 213 Kenyans and 10 US nationals. Another 4000 people were injured in the blast.
“I have no words to express the sorrow for the lives lost.
“It is with deep sadness that I lay a wreath dedicated to the many Kenyans and Americans who perished,” Mr Kerry told the survivors.
He called for concerted efforts in fighting acts of terrorism.
