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Mombasa came to a standstill on Sunday as thousands of residents and leaders paid their last respects to a leading businessman and philanthropist in the Coast region.
It was a unique send-off as the body of industrialist Hasmukhbhai Kanji Patel was displayed in Mombasa streets and Nyali estate, in what was described as a king’s funeral.
The vehicle carrying his body was decorated with flowers while mourners, dressed in white, accompanied it.
Residents were curious, some in shock, as the body -- not in a casket, dressed in a kaunda suit and seated in a chair on a pickup -- was driven at a slow pace around the city soon after it was removed from the Pandya Memorial Hospital.
The funeral procession consisted of a huge convoy of mourners in strict adherence to Hindu traditions.
Residents thronged the Cutch Leva Patel Samaj centre in Nyali in the afternoon to pay their last respects to the man popularly known as Hasu, the billionaire behind Mombasa cement.
Inside the hall, the body was displayed in an open space as mourners gave tributes to the man who for years came to the aid of thousands of poor people in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
Salama Chilumo from Mtwapa said she camped at the crematorium from early morning to see the body of the man who helped pay her school fees.
“He has fed us for years and assisted us when we had different challenges. We do not know whether this is going to continue,” she said.
Leaders described Patel as a compassionate and generous man.
In a speech delivered by Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, President William Ruto said the businessman, who died at 58, paid attention to the plight of the poor and cared for the environment.
Ruto said Patel cared for the disabled at the Sahajanand Special School in Mtwapa and died at a time when he had embarked on a food security project at Galana Kulalu in Kilifi County.
He said he also spent millions to build perimeter walls for schools, hospitals and other public institutions, particularly in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
“Hasu demonstrated compassion and generosity. He paid attention to the welfare of others,” Ruto said.
Joho said he will fast-track the lease application for the 53,000 acres that Hasu wanted to produce food at Galana Kulalu.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said Hasu was determined to share whatever he had with the needy in Mombasa and beyond.
“Hasu gave the philanthropic service his all and helped thousands of the needy,” he said.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the businessman gave hope to the sick and the poor.
Other leaders who paid tribute to the businessman were MPs Owen Baya (Kilifi North), Omar Mwinyi (Changamwe), Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni), East Africa Legislative Assembly member Hassan Omar and Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki.
Following prayers at Samjee Patel, the convoy which comprised of a fleet from Mombasa Cement proceeded to his Nyali home where the body stayed for more than an hour before it was taken to Cutch Leva Patel Samaj Centre for the funeral service.
Hindu spiritual leader Naran Mepani said Patel’s body was seated in a chair as a sign of respect only accorded to few people in the Hindu custom after they attain the status of a king.
“He was the king of the poor,” Mepani said.
Mepani said he was the first preacher in the community to have been accorded special status before burial by being displayed during the procession in the attire he was commonly known for.
“As you see he is in his blue kaunda suit he loved wearing while serving Mombasa people,” he said.
Many slum dwellers gathered outside the crematorium since early morning waiting to witness the last moments of their benefactor.
Jomvu MP Twalib told the Mombasa County government to name a road in honour of the businessman.
Among the beneficiaries of his generosity were some police stations and public hospitals.
He rehabilitated the Kibarani dumpsite in Mombasa and transformed it into a modern recreational park for Sh700 million.
According to the family, Hasu established the Mombasa Cement factory in 2007 and it became the leading cement factory in East Africa.
He owns 3,000 acres at the factory in Kilifi county producing two million metric tonnes of cement and one million metric tonne of clinker annually.
Hasu is also a shareholder at Corrugated Sheets Group at Mikindani.
The philanthropist ran a feeding programme at Sahajanand centre in Mtwapa, Kilifi county, which catered for over 50,000 people.
He also fed thousands at Kibarani in Mombasa spending about Sh300 million per month on assisting the community.
He also provided fresh water to Kisauni residents from a mobile water tanker.
