Store owners in the now-devastated upmarket Nairobi shopping mall where 67 people were slaughtered in last week's terrorist attack have said soldiers sent in to end the four-day siege looted electronics, jewellery and cash tills.
They say jewellery and mobile phones have been taken, cash tills plundered and restaurants emptied of alcohol, Reuters reported.
Traders say Kenyan forces looted the mall
Shopkeepers believe troops sent in to protect the complex are to blame, although they admit they have no proof.
READ MORE:
Kenyan Intelligence Suspected Westgate Mall Would Be Targeted, But Did Not Act, Report Claims
"The whole place has been done over," Tariq Harunani, an optician who was let into the mall late on Sunday told Reuters. He said dozens of pairs of sunglasses and frames were stolen from his store.
"We know who's done it but what can we do? They ransacked it. The military secured the place and in that time the place is emptied,” Yasser Harunani said. "This is Kenya. Let's just face it, what's lost is lost."
One witness told the Associated Press he saw a Kenyan soldier take cigarettes out of a dead man's pocket.
Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku confirmed the reports of theft Sunday in a news conference and said "those responsible for looting will be prosecuted."
This isn’t the first time poorly-paid Kenyan Security Forces have been accused of stealing from property they’re supposed to protect. There were also reports of looting during the major fire at Nairobi’s main airport in August, AP reported.
Meanwhile, almost a week after the brutal attack ended, more than three dozen people remain unaccounted for, the head of the Kenyan Red Cross said Monday.
The government contends there are no remaining missing people.
Nine suspects are now in custody following the assault, which is thought to have been carried out by the Islamist Somali group al Shabaab.
Kenya Mourns Westgate Victims
(01 of23)
Mary Italo grieves for her son Thomas Abayo Italo, 33, who was killed in the Westgate Mall attack, as she waits to receive his body at the mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Thomas was an accountant and the breadwinner of the family who helped look after Mary who is sick, according to relatives. Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the country's president declared an end Tuesday to the four-day siege of the Nairobi mall by al-Qaida-linked terrorists. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (credit:AP)
(02 of23)
Mary Italo grieves for her son Thomas Abayo Italo, 33, who was killed in the Westgate Mall attack, as she waits to receive his body at the mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Thomas was an accountant and the breadwinner of the family who helped look after Mary who is sick, according to relatives. Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the country's president declared an end Tuesday to the four-day siege of the Nairobi mall by al-Qaida-linked terrorists. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (credit:AP)
(03 of23)
Agnes Mutua, right, who waited all day to identify her nephew Christopher Kennedy Chewa who died in the Westgate Mall attack, is comforted by a relative after being informed that the mortuary is refusing to release his body due to the police not yet issuing clearance for the release of bodies of Westgate Mall attack victims, at the mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the country's president declared an end Tuesday to the four-day siege of a Nairobi mall by al-Qaida-linked terrorists. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (credit:AP)
(04 of23)
Agnes Mutua, right, who waited all day to identify her nephew Christopher Kennedy Chewa who died in the Westgate Mall attack, is comforted by a relative after being informed that the mortuary is refusing to release his body due to the police not yet issuing clearance for the release of bodies of Westgate Mall attack victims, at the mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the country's president declared an end Tuesday to the four-day siege of a Nairobi mall by al-Qaida-linked terrorists. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (credit:AP)
(05 of23)
Catholic nuns pray near the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25 2013. Gunshots rang out from the upscale mall Wednesday morning, the day after the president declared an end to a four-day siege by Islamic militants. (AP Photo/ Jerome Delay) (credit:AP)
(06 of23)
Mary Italo, center, grieves with other relatives for her son Thomas Abayo Italo, 33, who was killed in the Westgate Mall attack, as they wait to receive his body at the mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Thomas was an accountant and the breadwinner of the family who helped look after Mary who is sick, according to relatives. Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the country's president declared an end Tuesday to the four-day siege of the Nairobi mall by al-Qaida-linked terrorists. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (credit:AP)
(07 of23)
A relative reacts, during the funeral of Salima Ayaz Merali and her daughter Nurianna, in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Merali was killed alongside her daughter in last Saturday's Westgate Mall attack. The militant group behind the four-day takeover of a Nairobi mall claim Kenyan government forces used explosives in carrying out "a demolition" of the building, burying 137 hostages. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
(08 of23)
Relatives and friends support Ayaz Merali, centre, during the funeral of his wife Salima Ayaz Merali and daughter Nurianna, in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Merali was killed alongside her daughter in last Saturday's Westgate Mall attack. The militant group behind the four-day takeover of a Nairobi mall claim Kenyan government forces used explosives in carrying out "a demolition" of the building, burying 137 hostages. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
(09 of23)
Relatives and friends support Ayaz Merali, centre, during the funeral of his wife Salima Ayaz Merali and daughter Nurianna, in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Merali was killed alongside her daughter in last Saturday's Westgate Mall attack. The militant group behind the four-day takeover of a Nairobi mall claim Kenyan government forces used explosives in carrying out "a demolition" of the building, burying 137 hostages. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
(10 of23)
Relatives and friends carry the coffin of Salima Ayaz Merali, during her funeral, in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Merali was killed alongside her daughter in last Saturday's Westgate Mall attack. The militant group behind the four-day takeover of a Nairobi mall claim Kenyan government forces used explosives in carrying out "a demolition" of the building, burying 137 hostages. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
(11 of23)
Relatives and friends carry the coffin, during the funeral of Salima Ayaz Merali, in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Merali was killed alongside her daughter in last Saturday's Westgate Mall attack. The militant group behind the four-day takeover of a Nairobi mall claim Kenyan government forces used explosives in carrying out "a demolition" of the building, burying 137 hostages. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
(12 of23)
Street children watch media and others gather at a checkpoint near the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday Sept. 25 2013. Gunshots rang out from the upscale mall Wednesday morning, the day after the president declared an end to a four-day siege by Islamic militants. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (credit:AP)
(13 of23)
Relatives and friends carry the coffin of Salima Ayaz Merali, a victim killed in the Westgate Mall attack during a funeral in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Gunshots rang out from the upscale mall Wednesday morning, the day after the president declared an end to a four-day siege by Islamic militants. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
(14 of23)
A morgue worker waits outside the body preparation room at the mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the country's president declared an end Tuesday to the four-day siege of a Nairobi mall by al-Qaida-linked terrorists. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (credit:AP)
(15 of23)
Catholic nuns pray near the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25 2013. Gunshots rang out from the upscale mall Wednesday morning, the day after the president declared an end to a four-day siege by Islamic militants. (AP Photo/ Jerome Delay) (credit:AP)
(16 of23)
Mary Italo, center right, grieves with other relatives for her son Thomas Abayo Italo, 33, who was killed in the Westgate Mall attack, as they wait to receive his body at the mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Thomas was an accountant and the breadwinner of the family who helped look after Mary who is sick, according to relatives. Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the country's president declared an end Tuesday to the four-day siege of a Nairobi mall by al-Qaida-linked terrorists. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (credit:AP)
(17 of23)
Mary Italo, center, grieves with other relatives for her son Thomas Abayo Italo, 33, who was killed in the Westgate Mall attack, as they wait to receive his body at the mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Thomas was an accountant and the breadwinner of the family who helped look after Mary who is sick, according to relatives. Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the country's president declared an end Tuesday to the four-day siege of the Nairobi mall by al-Qaida-linked terrorists. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (credit:AP)
Kenya Begins Three Days Of National Morning Following The Westgate Shopping Mall Attack(18 of23)
NAIROBI, KENYA, - SEPTEMBER 25: Friends and relatives mourn during a funeral service for Selima Merali (41) and her daughter Nuriana Merali (15), who were killed in the attack by gunmen at the Westgate Shopping Centre, on September 25, 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. The country is observing three days of national mourning as security forces begin the task of clearing and securing the Westgate shopping mall following a four-day siege by militants. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Kenya Begins Three Days Of National Morning Following The Westgate Shopping Mall Attack(19 of23)
NAIROBI, KENYA, - SEPTEMBER 25: Relatives carry a coffin during a funeral procession for Selima Merali (41) and her daughter Nuriana Merali (15), who were killed in the attack by gunmen at the Westgate Shopping Centre, on September 25, 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. The country is observing three days of national mourning as security forces begin the task of clearing and securing the Westgate shopping mall following a four-day siege by militants. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(20 of23)
Enock Omuseye, center-left wearing a blue cap, whose brother Mark Juma Makoha died in the Westgate Mall attack, waits to receive the death certificate along with other relatives of both victims of the Westgate Mall attack and other unrelated incidents, at the mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the country's president declared an end Tuesday to the four-day siege of a Nairobi mall by al-Qaida-linked terrorists. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (credit:AP)
Kenya Begins Three Days Of National Morning Following The Westgate Shopping Mall Attack(21 of23)
NAIROBI, KENYA, - SEPTEMBER 25: A cemetery worker takes away his tools after the funeral for Selima Merali (41) and her daughter Nuriana Merali (15), who were killed in the attack by gunmen at the Westgate Shopping Centre, on September 25, 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. The country is observing three days of national mourning as security forces begin the task of clearing and securing the Westgate shopping mall following a four-day siege by militants. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Kenya Begins Three Days Of National Morning Following The Westgate Shopping Mall Attack(22 of23)
NAIROBI, KENYA, - SEPTEMBER 25: A cemetery worker walks next to fresh graves after the funeral for Selima Merali (41) and her daughter Nuriana Merali (15), who were killed in the attack by gunmen at the Westgate Shopping Centre, on September 25, 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. The country is observing three days of national mourning as security forces begin the task of clearing and securing the Westgate shopping mall following a four-day siege by militants. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Kenya Begins Three Days Of National Morning Following The Westgate Shopping Mall Attack(23 of23)
NAIROBI, KENYA, - SEPTEMBER 25: Cemetery workers carry equipment after the funeral for Selima Merali (41) and her daughter Nuriana Merali (15), who were killed in the attack by gunmen at the Westgate Shopping Centre, on September 25, 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. The country is observing three days of national mourning as security forces begin the task of clearing and securing the Westgate shopping mall following a four-day siege by militants. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)