Kenya Set to Re-open Westgate Mall; Security Overhaul Heightened

Construction workers dig holes to erect barriers at the reopened Westgate shopping mall, which was closed in the aftermath of an attack by militant gunmen in September 2013 that killed 67 people and injured many more, in capital Nairobi July 14, 2015. REUTERS/Noor Khamis — Construction workers dig holes to erect barriers at the reopened Westgate shopping mall, which was closed in the aftermath of an attack by militant gunmen in September 2013

Event

September 2013, Kenyan Westgate mall attacked by Somali militant group the Al Shabaab

OSINT Report

Kenya is set to re-open the trendy Westgate shopping mall on Saturday 18^th July 2015. It’s nearly two years after the dreary gunmen from the Somali based jihadists, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen attacked the mall and killed innocent civilians, men, women and children, held out many hostages for four days.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said the September 2013 attack was one the saddest day in Kenyan History. He touted the reopening of the mall as great triumph and a sign of national resilience in the face of the jihadist’s attacks. “They killed… our friends and relatives, but they did not kill our spirit,” Kidero argued.

Summary & Forecast

The Nairobi Governor was touring the mall where he witnessed the workmen slap final touches on the mall and the staff fixing on promotional banners ready for grand reopening event on Saturday.

The mall to house major western brands including KFC, Subway and Converse while Kenyan companies such as Nakumatt, high-end supermarket chain set to reopen their branch.

Security changed; I.R.G., a private Israeli company, has been put in charge of running security in the re-opened mall. It has about 25 specialist staff and will use about 55 guards from security firm G4S.

New security features will include explosive detectors, luggage X-rays, scanners to check underneath cars, bollards to prevent car bombs, and bullet-proof guard towers.