Grief as families identify bodies of terror victims
Families of six people killed in a suspected Al-Shabaab raid in
Mandera Town were on Thursday inundated with grief as they identified
the bodies of their loved ones.
A sombre mood engulfed
Chiromo Mortuary in Nairobi as the families identified bodies with the
help of teams from the Kenya Red Cross and National Disaster Management
Unit.
The dead were three quarry workers, two employees
of Islamic Relief Kenya, a humanitarian organisation in northern Kenya,
and a barber.
Mr David Munene, Mr Duncan Ndegwa and Mr
John Ndegwa were quarry workers, Mr David Chege worked as a barber in
Mandera, while Mr Evans Araka and Mr Levis Mwalimu were employees of
Islamic Relief Kenya.
Those who spoke to the Nation recounted their last moments with their loved ones while others were too distraught to speak.
Ms
Rebecca Otiende, Mr Araka’s widow, said her husband was not his usual
self the last time they were together as they planned their wedding.
“We
were with Evans days before he died. He came home from work as we were
planning our wedding, which was to take place next month. But what
struck me most was the funny behaviour he had this time. He ate a lot
and did not want to leave my side,” recalled Ms Otiende.
She
added that her husband took her leso and scarf with him, saying Mandera
was hot and that “she will use the items to identify him”, words which
came to pass.
Mr Enock Mururi, a brother to Mr Araka,
said his brother was forced by circumstances beyond his control to take
up the job as he was the sole bread winner of the family.
“My
brother was our family’s only hope. He was out of work before he took
up the job with Islamic Relief Kenya as the credit manager so as to
support the family, who were solely dependent on him. He was forced by
circumstances to take up the offer even though Mandera was a very
insecure place,” said the brother.
Mr Amos Mwatata, a
cousin of Mr Mwalimu, said he had only been in Mandera for a year and
four months and was pursuing a master’s degree before he met his death.
“Mwalimu
told me he took the job with the organisation as he was working on a
target that he wanted to achieve before he could call it quits,
considering the insecurity in Mandera and also the harsh living
conditions there. He was paying a Form Two student’s fees,” said Mr
Mwatata.
Source: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Grief-as-families-identify-bodies-of-terror-victims/1056-3409076-9dpowdz/
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