A Katoomba man who was in Nairobi when 21 people were killed in a terrorist attack last week has vowed to return to the Kenyan capital to do business.
Zac Suito was only kilometres from the DusitD2 hotel when terrorists stormed the upmarket complex last Tuesday. Somali Islamist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, which has already led to multiple arrests.
Mr Suito had arrived in Kenya on January 13 to buy coffee for his Cassiopeia Specialty Coffee business. He was tasting crops with exporters from the Kenyan company, Dormans Coffee, on the day of the attack.
“We heard there had been an incident when we were leaving the exporter’s office about 3.30pm but we didn’t know how bad it was at that time,” he said.
When the full horror of the attack became known he texted his family back in Australia to let them know he was safe, before later contacting the Australia Embassy in case the situation worsened in the coming days.
“Our driver that day was only saying how Kenya had been really good lately and the Somalian [terrorists] hadn’t been giving them any trouble. Nairobi had been moving forward in a positive way – and then this happens,” he said.
“It’s a shame because Kenyans are beautiful people, they are friendly… It doesn’t reflect the true nature of Kenya.”
Mr Suito wasn’t due to leave Kenya until the Saturday and said the mood in the capital was tense following the attack.
“They shut all the shopping centres and there was tight security everywhere. The vibe in Kenya was different in the days afterwards. There was tension in the air.”
But the 31-year-old said he has no plans to sever his connections with the African nation.
“This was my second trip in two years and I hope to return every year,” he said.
