initial reports were of gunfire and two explosions at the hotel. by 16 january 2019, president uhuru kenyatta said that 14 people had been killed, including all the terrorists. al-shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement that was released during the attack. mohammed gichunge was the shooter but was quickly shot down by kenya's rekke squad - an equivalent to america's swat. his accomplice and girlfriend fled to somalia. the hotel was reopened in august.