KENYA: Kenyan politicians join mourners as fire victims are buried in Molo mass grave

Record ID: 360812

  • Title: KENYA: Kenyan politicians join mourners as fire victims are buried in Molo mass grave
  • Date: 10th February 2009
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT THE MASS FOR THE FIRE VICTIMS PRESIDENTIAL DAIS KENYAN PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI AT THE MASS VIEW OF A TEARY WOMAN AT THE MASS MOURNERS (SOUNDBITE) (Kiswahili) KENYAN PRIME MINISTER RAILA ODINGA, SAYING: "This accident should serve as a lesson for all of us as Kenyans. Let us learn from this accident the dangers that we put ourselves in and how to protect
  • Embargoed: 25th February 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA9L7Q5USQKNYSKWAELON0CE1JS
  • Story Text: Seventy-eight Kenyans who burned to death in one of the country's worst accidents were buried together on Monday (February 9) because their bodies were too charred to be identified.

    "This accident should serve as a lesson for all of us as Kenyans.
    Let us learn from this accident the dangers that we put ourselves in and how to protect ourselves and others," said Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
    At least 133 people were killed as a blaze lit by a cigarette engulfed a crowd who were scrambling for free fuel spilling from an overturned tanker.

    "We should have a disaster response centre in this area to cater for the high number of accidents that are experienced here. It is always very difficult to attend to victims whenever accidents occur," said bereaved resident of Molo Patrick Karanja.
    President Mwai Kibaki said the nation was "pained to the core" by the tragedy, which came just days after a fire swept through a supermarket in central Nairobi, killing at least 27 people.
    The two disasters have brought a torrent of accusations that his government is poorly prepared to deal with emergencies.
    Kibaki and other officials donned face masks to block out the stench as a bulldozer poured soil over two large graves near the scene of Saturday's inferno on a road outside the central town of Molo.
    The deaths have also compounded a mood of national gloom in Kenya, where major new graft scandals have come to light and the economy has taken a dive due to the global recession and the impact of last year's post-election election violence.
    East Africa's biggest economy also faces food shortages, with 10 million people, more than a quarter of the population, suffering from hunger.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register