NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 – A memorial service to remember victims of Nakumatt Downtown inferno last week was held Sunday in the capital Nairobi as the country reeled from another fire tragedy that killed more than 100 people.
The service, held in Nairobi’s Nakumatt Mega stores, was attended by the company’s management, employees, customers and relatives of the deceased.
Similar services were held in all the supermarket’s stores across the country.
At least 26 people died last week when a fire engulfed the supermarket, located in the centre of Nairobi.
Nakumatt Operations Director Thiagarajan Ramamurthy pleaded for prayers and help for families of the deceased.
"What is more important here is to do the prayers and to do a duty that is also your prayer and commitment. We need a lot of prayers in this country to avoid such incidents," he told the service.
"I have seen in my life that prayers save lives, prayers save countries, and prayers bring sanity in the minds of the people."
"We have formed groups that will visit the families both at home and participate in all activities pertaining to the funeral arrangements," he added.
He said employees who lost their jobs in the supermarket inferno will be distributed to other branches across the country in a bid to secure their welfare.
Mr. Ramamurthy expressed satisfaction with the ongoing recovery process which he had initially raised concern was a bit slow.
"Five bodies have been identified so far and am sure in the next 10 days the whole process should be complete," he said.
A representative of Nakumatt employees’ Elphas Kisangi said the service was a welcome move especially in bringing all interested parties together.
"The presence of the director for operations together with the entire managerial staff and the people in authority meant a lot to all staff and also the mere fact that our customers came to console us too," Mr. Kisangi said.
Meanwhile, at least 112 people died over the weekend near the Rift Valley town of Molo when oil they were scrabbling for caught fire in one of Kenya’s worst accidents.
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