Nairobi Kenya's government has given the first sign that
Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall may one day reopen for business despite
being partially destroyed in last month's attack by Islamist gunmen.
At
least 67 people died in the massacre and siege of the upmarket complex,
and the rear of the four-storey building collapsed following a huge
blaze sparked by fierce fighting between the militants and security
forces.
Sources close to the ongoing forensic investigation say
that it will take at least another month to clear the rubble. The Kenyan
Red Cross has said some 39 people are still listed as missing, and
there are fears more bodies could be found in the wreckage.
But in
a meeting with shop owners late Wednesday, Kenya's Commerce Minister
Phyllis Kandie said she wanted to see Westgate resume business and
promised government help.
"The Government of Kenya is sincerely
committed to ensuring that Westgate Mall operations do resume within the
shortest time possible through a public-private partnership model," she
said.
"Through
this partnership, we shall be further seeking to ensure the overall
national economic resilience following the tragic events by reducing
levels of business collapse, investor apathy and job losses," the
minister added.
Prior to the attack, the Westgate shopping mall's
annual contribution to the Kenyan economy was reported to be valued at
more than 100 billion Kenyan shillings (870 million euros, $1.2
billion), while the centre itself accounted for over 2,000 jobs.
Reports say the mall was insured for 6.6 billion Kenyan shillings, with the policy covering damage by terrorist attack.
It
remains unclear if any survey of the mall has yet taken place to
establish if any wider structural damage to the shopping centre was
caused by the collapse of the parking area.
The minister did not
address widespread allegations that shops in the mall were looted by
security forces in the wake of the siege.
However
police said they were also investigating allegations that morgue staff
had stolen items from dead bodies brought in from the mall.
"We
are investigating how some of the dead people were robbed of their
items. Those found responsible will face the law. The mortuary
attendants are assisting in the investigation," said Peter Katam, police
chief of Nairobi's Kilimani district.
On Thursday Kenya's
Standard newspaper reported that a morgue attendant had been detained
for stealing a gold watch from a nephew of Kenyan President Uhuru
Kenyatta who died in the attack.
Source: Yahoo
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