‘I got a second chance at life’ Shiksha Arora Marks 13th Anniversary of Westgate Mall Attack 

Media personality Shiksha Arora has marked the 13th anniversary of the Westgate Mall terrorist attack with a tribute to the victims and survivors, recounting her personal experience of surviving the tragedy.

Speaking on the anniversary, Arora recalled being at the Mall on that fateful day when the attack occurred. “13 years ago, on this very day, I was at the Westgate Mall when we were attacked by terrorists. That is the Al-Shabaab. Life has never been the same ever since, and I truly thank God to be able to tell the story, to be able to live 13 years on, and to do all these amazing things that I’ve managed to do in my life,” she said.

She noted that her life could have been cut short that day, like so many others she knew, including Ruhila Adatia, who was with her at the time.

“We were together at the cooking competition for East FM,” she recalled. “I’m so blessed, I’m so lucky that I got the opportunity to do life again. I got a second chance at life, but so many others didn’t ever make it out alive.”

Arora used the occasion to remember all those who lost their lives in the attack and to reach out to their families and all those affected. “I just want to remember all those who lost their lives on this specific day at the Westgate Mall attack, and I want to reach out to their families. I want to tell everybody who was affected in one way or another that I remember each and every one of you who’s lost somebody at the Westgate terrorist attack, and I want to tell you that I understand the feeling of loss,” she said.

She acknowledged that the pain of loss never truly fades. “It truly never goes away. It’s been 13 years, and to date, every September we still have this emptiness every year. I want to remember the people who’ve lost their lives through their names, their stories, the impact that they’ve had on people’s lives, the lives that they’ve touched, and the truly amazing memories that we’ve been left with.”

Reflecting on her survival, she talked about the value of life, “Not everybody who went into Westgate Mall 13 years ago made it out alive. And for those of us who survived, we truly understand what it means to get a second chance at life. This life is truly a blessing, and the fact that we’re here, we’re healthy, we’re living, we’re alive, let’s just continue being kind towards each other. Let’s continue being compassionate towards each other, and let’s continue to try and do our level best to make this world a better place.”