Kenya: Mass burial for oil fire victims
By MARK AGUTU Posted Monday, February 9, 2009
Seventy eight people who died in the Sachang’wan oil fire tragedy in Nakuru district of Kenya's Rift Valley province have been buried.
They were interred in a mass grave, without coffins and a few steps from where they met their painful death.
They were buried collectively, having been burned beyond recognition by the inferno triggered by the exploding oil tanker that overturned at Sachang’wan, about thirty kilometres from Nakuru town on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.
The bodies - individually wrapped in polythene bags – were covered with large white canvass sheets.
The grave had been dug at the weekend by an earthmover hired from a road contractor. It is to be cemented and a monument erected in honour of the deceased.
The plot of land was donated by a local farmer Richard Muir.
Men, women and children sobbed uncontrollably with many fainting as their grief proved too much to bear shortly after clergymen – including Muslim leaders - led by Catholic Bishop Philip Anyolo Nakuru Catholic finished the final rites at the gravesite.
Some carried framed pictures of their loved ones who died in the fire.
Those who fainted were given first aid by personnel from the Kenya Red Cross Society and St John Ambulance.
Monday’s burial marked the sad climax of a week of mourning for the residents of Sachang’wan and Kibunja villages in Molo district, who lost their kin in the fire.
The emotional send off- attended by President Kibaki, former President Moi and other government leaders- saw renewed calls for Kenyans to ensure their safety at all times.
President Kibaki directed the ministry of Special Programmes to hasten implementation of the National Disaster Management Strategy.
“The Ministry should first conduct training for local leaders, NGOs, Civil Servants including provincial administrators, on disaster management.
“Then Provincial Administration and teachers should conduct civic education to sensitise wananchi on how to ensure their own safety and how to conduct themselves when disasters occur.”
He said that the fund set up to assist the Nakumatt/Molo fire victims will settle hospital bills and provide other related humanitarian assistance.
The President appealed to Kenyans to come forward and donate towards the fund.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged Kenyans to be wary of scenes such as the one where the deceased met their death adding there was need to teach Kenyans, especially students, on disaster preparedness.
Seventy eight people who died in the Sachang’wan oil fire tragedy in Nakuru district of Kenya's Rift Valley province have been buried.
They were interred in a mass grave, without coffins and a few steps from where they met their painful death.
They were buried collectively, having been burned beyond recognition by the inferno triggered by the exploding oil tanker that overturned at Sachang’wan, about thirty kilometres from Nakuru town on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.
The bodies - individually wrapped in polythene bags – were covered with large white canvass sheets.
The grave had been dug at the weekend by an earthmover hired from a road contractor. It is to be cemented and a monument erected in honour of the deceased.
The plot of land was donated by a local farmer Richard Muir.
Men, women and children sobbed uncontrollably with many fainting as their grief proved too much to bear shortly after clergymen – including Muslim leaders - led by Catholic Bishop Philip Anyolo Nakuru Catholic finished the final rites at the gravesite.
Some carried framed pictures of their loved ones who died in the fire.
Those who fainted were given first aid by personnel from the Kenya Red Cross Society and St John Ambulance.
Monday’s burial marked the sad climax of a week of mourning for the residents of Sachang’wan and Kibunja villages in Molo district, who lost their kin in the fire.
The emotional send off- attended by President Kibaki, former President Moi and other government leaders- saw renewed calls for Kenyans to ensure their safety at all times.
President Kibaki directed the ministry of Special Programmes to hasten implementation of the National Disaster Management Strategy.
“The Ministry should first conduct training for local leaders, NGOs, Civil Servants including provincial administrators, on disaster management.
“Then Provincial Administration and teachers should conduct civic education to sensitise wananchi on how to ensure their own safety and how to conduct themselves when disasters occur.”
He said that the fund set up to assist the Nakumatt/Molo fire victims will settle hospital bills and provide other related humanitarian assistance.
The President appealed to Kenyans to come forward and donate towards the fund.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged Kenyans to be wary of scenes such as the one where the deceased met their death adding there was need to teach Kenyans, especially students, on disaster preparedness.
