Survivors of the 1998 US embassy bombing in Nairobi have urged President William Ruto to address their long-overdue compensation from the US government ahead of Vice President JD Vance's visit. The group, known as The Consortium, highlighted 27 years of neglect following the attack that killed over 200 and injured more than 5,000. They also called for implementation of a stalled parliamentary report on the issue.
On November 6, 2025, survivors and bereaved families of the August 7, 1998, bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi demanded that President William Ruto personally intervene in securing compensation from the US government. The attack, carried out by a truck bomb at the intersection of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, resulted in more than 200 deaths and over 5,000 injuries. Speaking after a court session on their compensation case, The Consortium issued an urgent call for justice, citing 27 years of poverty, trauma, and government neglect.
The group specifically urged Ruto to raise the matter during US Vice President JD Vance's upcoming visit to Kenya later in November 2025. In addition to presidential involvement, they demanded judicial accountability and immediate implementation of a stalled parliamentary committee report. Established in 2023 by the Senate, the Ad Hoc Committee on Compensation of Kenyan Victims of the 1998 Bombing, chaired by Senator Agnes Kavindu, produced a progress report titled 'Progress Report of the Ad-Hoc Committee – Compensation of 1998 Bomb Blast Victims.'
The committee conducted hearings and consultations with victims, lawyers, and government ministries including Interior and National Administration, Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, and Health, as well as disability council entities. Key issues identified included the lack of registration for many victims with the disability council, preventing access to benefits, and the need for a special desk in the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to coordinate redress efforts. Victims expressed feelings of discrimination, noting that US compensation schemes have included non-American nationals in some instances but excluded Kenyan citizens due to US Congress legislation that did not account for them.
The Consortium also linked their plight to recent injustices faced by victims of the Gen Z protests, viewing both as examples of state neglect and unfulfilled promises. They warned the public against fraudulent groups claiming to represent bombing victims, which have exploited the tragedy for personal gain while genuine survivors suffer.