Bodies of 3 Kenyans who died in UAE fire repatriated
The bodies of three Kenyans who tragically died in a fire in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, have been repatriated.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko led a sombre procession at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in the early hours of Monday morning, as the body of one of three Kenyan men who died in a fire at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Family and friends gathered to receive the body of the late Benjamin Kioko Ndunda, who was the second to arrive before he was escorted to Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home in Machakos County, after a short prayer service at the airport.
The body of Ian Ndung’u Mungai, which was badly burnt, arrived in the country on Sunday morning aboard KQ 311, as scheduled, and was transferred to Montezuma in Muranga County. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, 2025.
The remains of Kennedy Kamau Wangari arrived in Nairobi on Monday at 11am.
The three tragically lost their lives in a residential blaze that occurred in Sharjah on March 13, 2025, leaving families and the Kenyan diaspora community in mourning.
The former Nairobi County boss also paid tribute to the collaborative efforts that had enabled the bodies to be returned safely, thanking the Government of Kenya, in particular the Principal Secretary for Aviation, Terry Mbaika; the CEO of Kenya Airways, Allan Kilavuka; the Kenyan Embassy and Consulate in the UAE; and the funeral committee in Sharjah, led by Timothy and MP for Kibwezi East, Jessica Mbalu.
“This was a true display of unity, compassion, and commitment to our fellow Kenyans,” he said. Adding that Kioko will be laid to rest on Friday, May 9.
The three men had been working in the UAE in pursuit of better opportunities. Their tragic deaths have reignited calls for enhanced safety and welfare measures for Kenyans working abroad.
Soon after the incident, the families were left in limbo over the high cost of repatriating their loved ones, as costs proved too high to meet.
The cause of the inferno was determined to be an electrical fault that caused an overload in the building’s transformer. According to the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority, this, coupled with high temperatures, caused the fire.
Kenyans living and working in the UAE managed to collect $12,400 (about Sh1.6 million) against their target of $27,000 (Sh3.5 million) to give a befitting send-off to their three colleagues.
A source in the UAE, who didn’t want to be identified for fear of retribution by local authorities, at the time said the reason they came together to help is that the three are among many Kenyans working with freelance visas, meaning that the companies that hired them are limited when it comes to medical insurance and any other eventualities.
The source added that they also wanted to make the burden of families easier as the chances that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would help financially remain slim.
“The consulate and embassies never come through when it comes to money…they are only involved in paperwork. The family takes care of the repatriation of the body and other expenses. This is very unfortunate and the ministry needs to do something. Whenever such things happen, because this is not the first time, it is upon Kenyans in the said country to contribute to support the families.”
The bodies will be taken to their hometowns for the final funeral rites, while family members prepare to lay their loved ones to rest.
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