City mall’s rebirth shames terrorists who thought the 2013 attack would break the country. The shopping complex feels even safer, with better security machinery, narrates Kimathi Mutegi
Exactly two years ago, the country was plunged into four days of terror. Gunmen stormed the elite Westgate Shopping Mall on midday of Saturday, September 21, 2013 and went on a killing spree.
Kenyans could not believe it—this is the sort of an attack they only hear of in war-torn countries such as Iraq and Syria. Perhaps that’s the reason that many people, including some security agencies, at first dismissed the attack as an ordinary robbery mission that would only require a few law enforcers to deal with.
It took time to filter that indeed, they were terrorists on a mission to steal something more valuable—67 lives, livelihoods and the pride of peace-loving Kenyans.
When the bullets stopped flying and the smoke cleared, the rubble that remained of what was once the pride of Westlands was as horrid as the one left in the hearts of Kenyans.
For the last two years, the mall stood tall, but conspicuously deserted. People pointed at it from a distance, speaking in hushed tones as they drove or walked past the lonely shell.
But in those two years, the mall was undergoing a silent rebirth, re-opening its doors to the public on July 18, this year. From the outside, the structure looks like the Westgate of before—its synonymous cream-yellow paintwork on the facade is fresher, making the building stand out.
The cracks and wreckages spotted in the aftermath of the attack are now gone. And so are the short bollards that ran along Mwanzi Road next to the mall. In their place is an imposing metal grill fence running some metres high.
The famous view of coffee drinkers snacking inside is now almost all covered up. When my cameraman and I made towards the car park entrance at the weekend, the heavily-gadgeted security guards meets us midway.
Once beaten twice shy, I quickly conclude. We explain our mission, requesting to take a few shots of the mall and they directed us to the main entrance. Here, there is yet another notable change.
Before the terror attack, Nakumatt Supermarket’s elephant statue stood proudly at the middle of the entrance, but not today. It has been moved and in its place stands a security scanner manned by eight guards and two gun-wielding police officers.
It is understandable because even the statue’s imposing size wasn’t a deterrent to the terrorists as a footage showed one of them shooting right under it.
The guards decline to let us in after we identify ourselves as journalists and we are instructed to wait as a more senior person is consulted.
Reports indicate an Israeli firm is in charge of the mall’s security since it was re-opened and the mall now boasts explosive detectors, luggage and vehicle scanners and security bollards.
We explained to the senior officer that our mission. He also cannot allow us in and instead calls his senior, I believe. Seconds later, we are repeating the same request to another officer, who after listening keenly simply said “No”. 
He explained that they cannot allow journalistic works for security reasons. He however, allows me in—after promising to just go in as an ordinary shopper—but my camera man cannot go in. Inside, the smell of coffee is welcoming, wafting from the Dorman’s cafe just next to the reception.
Jewellery and clothes stores line each side of the ground floor and are up and running. The mall feels different though. Perhaps it is. Security guards dot the mall —some uniformed, others in plain clothes—with noticeable ear pieces.
And to ensure I conducted no media work while in the facility, my movements were being monitored—one security fellow never let me off his eyes. In an electronics shop, an attendant recounts to me the siege horror, saying he was one of the first persons to escape when terrorist struck.
“I lost many friends and didn’t even think I would come close to this building ever again, leave alone working in it,” he said, saying he underwent months of counselling after the attack.
A number of shops are yet to open and the human traffic synonymous with Westgate before the attack is somehow missing. I climbed to the upper floors and noticed my trail chatting with the guards outside the toy store I had entered. This gives once a sense of security.
As said before, the mall is different, but in a good way. The officer tasked to keep an eye on the ‘prying’ journalist follows my movement in the glass elevator. I waved at him and smile. He waved back but no smile. It does not matter, he is doing his job, and I was half done with mine...
The post Kenyans unbowed: Westgate rises from ashes like a phoenix appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.