Sinai victims’ kin to get Sh70,000 each

By Patrick Kibet and Felix Olick

The 164 families who lost relatives in Sinai fire tragedy will each get Sh60,000 to cover funeral expenses, the Government has announced.

Addressing a Press briefing, Special Programmes Minister Esther Murugi said the families will receive an additional Sh10,000 each as start-up capital to enable them rebuild their lives.

"We will give each family Sh10,000 as a start-up. The ministry has already used Sh11.5 million not inclusive of food and blankets donated to Kenyatta National Hospital," she said.

Ms Murugi further said a team of doctors for fuel burns from Norway and Finland have arrived in the country to help their counterparts at KNH.

Already, 119 deaths have been confirmed and 37 of the victims died at the KNH while undergoing treatment. DNA tests have been carried out on 49 bodies and the results are expected in two months time. And 70 bodies that have been identified will be released for burial to respective families.

Nairobi PC Njoroge Ndirangu has said inter-denominational prayers will be conducted today for the victims who perished last Monday. The prayers will be held at Uhuru Park led by the Anglican Church.

Mr Ndirangu announced that his office has received Sh42 million that will be distributed to families of fire victims to cover funeral expenses.

stop mass burial

And, KNH has so far received donations of more than Sh10 million and 2,533 pints of blood in aid of the Sinai fire victims.

The hospital’s Cooperate Affairs Manager Simon Ithai has said the donations were made by corporate companies, Government institutions and ordinary Kenyans.

The Israeli government also sent contributions while the German through their ambassador is expected to give donations tomorrow.

Speaking on Tuesday after receiving donations from AAR Holdings Limited, Ithai said 38 patients are still admitted at the facility.

KNH Board Director Lawrence Omire told The Standard that doctors at the facility were also touched by the plight of the victims and contributed Sh200,000.

Meanwhile, Makadara MP Gidion Kioko Mbuvi and a councillor have moved to court to stop the Government from burying the Sinai fire victims in a mass grave.

The MP and Mr Maina Kangara have filed the application at Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court on grounds that the act is inhumane.

They want the court to issue an injunction restraining Public Health Minister from burying the victims in a mass grave or doing anything prejudicial to the bodies pending hearing and determination of the case.

—Additional report by Judy Ogutu