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Govt to help restore Westgate businesses

Terrorists attacked the multi-billion shilling mall on September 21. Photo/FILE

Terrorists attacked the multi-billion shilling mall on September 21. Photo/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 10 – The government has pledged to support and facilitate business owners at the Westgate Shopping Mall get back on their feet following the aftermath of the September 21 terror attack.

East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Secretary Phyllis Kandie indicated that plans have already been kicked off to facilitate the rapid restoration of the Shopping Mall.

She gave the assurance that the government will spearhead an integrated business recovery strategy that will ensure the speedy restoration of the iconic mall.

“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.

She announced that her ministry would be establishing a working committee comprising of Westgate Shopping Mall stakeholders, who will be, tasked with advising on the immediate action and partnership necessary between the government and the stakeholders geared at facilitating rapid restoration.

She said that the committee will also identify the immediate actions taken by the Government to safeguard on possible loss of more than 2,000 direct jobs resulting from the incident.

“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,” she said.

The Cabinet Secretary was speaking in her office when she chaired an inter-ministries consultative forum comprising of Westgate Shopping Mall tenants and related stakeholders.

The meeting also sought to explore ways and means of mitigating economic losses arising from the shopping malls closure while considering avenues to, rapidly restore normal operations at the mall.

Before the attack, the Mall was supporting an economic ecosystem, valued at more than Sh100 billion annually.

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