Recently, there have been allegations that the army looted during the rescue operation. Former military officers want the Chief of Defence Forces, John Karamngi, to resign if these allegations are true.
Some of the Kenya Defence Forces were captured on CCTV cameras carrying plastic bags from Nakumatt supermarket, the contents of which are unknown. Retired army general said that something must be wrong with the soldiers for them to commit such an act of unproffesionalism. He also added that the top command is to blame.
Intelligence information has revealed that the Nakumatt plastic bags that the KDF soldiers were carrying contained money that had been emptied from the cashiers’ trays at the supermarket.
The CCTV footage subjected the military to public criticism, with Kenyans making fun of the soldiers carrying plastic bags on facebook and twitter during Mashujaa day celebrations.
A retired Kenya Air Force Captain, Njeru Kathangu, who later resigned to join politics said that it would be very hard for Kenyans to forgive the army.
In the year 2003, the US army watched as people looted in Iraq’s major towns. This was a tactic to intimidate those who supported Sadam. Mr Kathangu said that the way things were at Iraq could not apply to Westgate Mall as only innocent shoppers and businessmen were affected.
He added that the KDF squad had let down Kenyans and those who are found to have participated in the looting should face legal action.
A commission on National Security was set up to deal with the allegations. When karangi came before the commission, he defended his soldiers saying that they were carrying water which they had picked from Nakumatt. He said the officers were undertaking a procedure known as sanitation; where they are seen ransacking safes at the mall.
Chairman of the National Security Asman Kamama denied claims that looting by the army was the cause of losses to the business owners, adding that it was a tactic to get compensation. Even after being shown the CCTV footage, she still denied the looting claims urging those with hard evidence to come forward.
