Westgate massacre, one year on

Eunice Khavetsa was at home, going about her daily business, when a neighbor asked her whether she had heard about events at Nairobi's Westgate Mall. She knew the mall well - it's where her husband worked as a security guard. The neighbor told her to turn on the TV. That's when she realized the mall was under attack.

A year ago (21.09.2013), gunmen stormed the mall where they staged a four-day massacre. Eunice Khavetsa's husband was among the first victims who were killed. He was shot eight times.

Eunice now has to fend for herself and her two children, aged seven and nine. "They have to eat, they have to go to school. I have to pay rent. My parents-in-law want nothing to do with me, and my family doesn't have any money. I'm completely on my own," she said.

According to Kenyan officials, 67 people were killed during the attack.

There are numerous others, like Eunice and her children, who still suffer in the aftermath of the catastrophe.

Details of the attack still unclear

Islamist militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the massacre. Yet, even one year after the attack, many details are still unclear. Previously, it had been rumored there were 12 attackers - now though it's believed to be four. The fact that bodies were discovered in a gutted part of the mall indicates the attackers themselves died in the attack. It also couldn't be confirmed that a British widow of a Somali suicide attacker assisted in the massacre.

The trial against four alleged accomplices is set to resume on Tuesday (23.09.2014).

Ever since the attack, Eunice Khavetsa avoids going to huge shopping malls. She isn't the only one with that fear. Atul Shah, who manages a branch of grocery store Nakumatt, says it took several months until people gathered again in malls and public places. Three of his employees died at Westgate, the store is still closed. Shah says economic damage amounts to 500 million Kenyan Shilling (4,37 million euros; $5,63 million).

"Westgate was our flagship branch. A branch that was thriving very well, a branch that was frequented by all nationalities," he said.

Maximum media coverage sought

Nairobi's Westgate Mall is in a wealthy area in the city's west. In addition to Kenyans, it also caters to many foreign customers. Al-Shabab apparently wanted to get extensive media coverage of the attacks.

The militia is rooted in Somalia. After international troops gained ground by defeating more and more Islamist fighters in the country on the Horn of Africa, al-Shabab began focusing on Somalia's neighboring countries that participated in military interventions. Their goal was to get them to pull out their troops from Somalia.

Kenya has been hit by a string of attacks: Al-Shabab said it was responsible for attacks on the coastal province of Lamu in June. Last week, Ugandan police forces arrested 19 Islamist fighters and said a terror plot relating to Uganda's capital Kampala had been foiled. No further details have been given on the scope of the attacks.

Fear over terror attacks remains - even though Kenya's police are confident they are prepared for all sorts of terror scenarios: "The police have increased security measures. Kenyan citizens and foreign guests can go about their normal business without any fear," a spokesman said.

In August, heads of African intelligence services met in Nairobi to discuss how to improve security. "No single country can deal with terrorism on its own," said Chris Mburu, external intelligence director at Kenya's National Intelligence Service. "So as much as internal efforts are paramount, it is important for countries of Africa to come together, pool resources, share intelligence and information in order to be able to confront this challenge," he added.

Who's to blame?

One year on, allegations remain that security forces failed at Westgate. At least one police officer was killed when different units fought each other. Little has been done to clear this up, although a few people were sacked. Intelligence chief Michael Gichangi resigned in August over criticism he failed in the fight against terrorism.

"If anything has been done, it has been very little," Ben Mulwa said, one of the Westgate attack's survivors. Since Westgate, there have been more than 20 or 30 similar terror attacks. Most of these incidents I believe could have been prevented."

Mulwa says he still hears the gun shots ringing in his ears. He was able to escape with a bullet wound in his foot. "The sound of a gunshot completely messes me up. Even anything that bangs loudly, it affects me."

The Kenyan government has announced it plans to commemorate the victims of the Westgate attack on Sunday (21.09.2014) with prayers, concerts and a wake. An exhibition at the National Museum will give survivors and artists the chance to express themselves.

"The nation may have been seriously scarred, but we shall never be broken as people," Kenya's First Lady Margaret Kenyatta said during the official opening of the exhibit. The message: Kenyans from all ranks and religion have moved closer together.

However, Mulwa says these steps are not enough. He has founded the network "Hope Beyond Terror" to help other survivors. "Just to be there for one another because it's a very challenging situation."