Kenya commemorated the 10th anniversary of the infamous Westgate Mall attack on Thursday, a tragic event that occurred on September 21, 2013, when Somali al-Shabab militants launched a deadly assault on the upscale shopping mall in Nairobi, resulting in the loss of over 60 lives.

Jeremy Van Tongeren, Chairman of the Kenya Security Industry Association, remarked, “Innocent lives were lost, and our sense of security was shattered.

But today, as we gather to remember those who were taken from us too soon, we also gather to celebrate something much more powerful than the senselessness of violence that befell us a decade ago. We gather to celebrate the resilience of our nation.”

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During the attack, a four-man commando team stormed the Westgate shopping mall, hurling grenades and indiscriminately opening fire on shoppers and store owners, killing anyone in their path.

The ensuing four-day siege saw Kenyan security forces launch multiple assaults to regain control of the mall and subdue the attackers, resulting in the deaths of 67 people and more than 150 injuries.

Survivors of the attack continue to grapple with the trauma. One survivor shared, “I hope that it won’t happen again. I’m still scared sometimes.

I still have flashbacks. Today, I’m remembering the people who passed away, but I’m also remembering that I have this chance to live, and I’m grateful, yes, and I pray.”

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The Westgate Mall attack was claimed by al-Shabaab in response to Kenya’s military intervention in southern Somalia in 2011.

To date, only two individuals have been convicted in connection with the atrocity, each receiving separate prison sentences of 33 and 18 years.