Terryanne Chebet, 34, Business news anchor, based in Nairobi
I explained to my 7-year-old daughter what death is, after her former schoolmate was killed in the attack. It has been difficult. It’s hard to imagine that we could have been there, like we almost always are on Saturdays. The nights have been darker and tougher. My daughter prays every night for the children who died. It breaks my heart that a 7-year-old girl who should be happily playing around is thinking about death.
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James Ochieng Owira, 39, Writer, based in Nairobi
I have friends who are policemen and soldiers who were part of the Westgate operation. One was shot in the foot while another was killed. Some of the policemen are traumatized from the horror they saw in the mall. I am not really afraid of the terrorists. Information has emerged that the government had been warned of an impending attack, but slept on the job. I am more concerned about a lax government rather than a faceless terrorist.
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James Smart, 29, TV anchor and talk show host, based in Nairobi
I go to the malls as any other average Kenyan would. That day, that Saturday it could have been my family and me passing by the mall. It would be completely irrational for anyone to say now they won’t go to the malls: I will go. We won’t let the cowardly act by a terrorist destroy our social fabric and our lives. What has changed is that now there is suspicion, there is fear, as you could imagine, after such traumatic incident.
Victor Mochere, 20, University Student, based in Nairobi
The terrorism attack at Westgate has adversely affected our lives in the sense that there is a lot of fear among us. Wherever you go you just feel insecure about maybe another attack happening. Since the attack, quite a lot has changed in my life: for instance I am afraid to walk into any shopping mall at the moment. I am afraid for my safety, since the government is not doing enough to guarantee it.
Joel Omondi, 24, cyber-cafe employee, based in Bungoma
The terrorist attack has not affected me, my family, or friends directly because I am from Western Kenya several kilometers away from Westgate and so are my family members and friends. It has however affected us in the sense that some of our fellow countrymen and women lost their lives and most of them are still nursing the injuries from the attack. Thank God normal activities are going on despite the grave and enormous challenge to our nation.
Ephraim Percy Kenyanito, 21, Bachelor in Law, based in Eldoret
I have a friend named Mwangi who sells furniture around the Westgate Mall. He complains that business is slow. Nothing much has changed for me personally. I am only afraid of going to places where there are many people. Yes, I am [afraid for my safety], especially since CNN reported that the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi predicts another attack in Kenya.
