Thousands turn up for TSS' burial
Mombasa residents carry the body of businessman Tahir Sheikh Said, popularly known as TSS, on January 11, 2017. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Mr Said, 75, was buried at Saragoi Muslim Cemetery in Mvita.
His body had first been taken to Masjid Sheikh Nurein for a funeral service.
Thousands of Mombasa residents on Wednesday turned up for the burial of businessman Tahir Sheikh Said, popularly known as TSS.
Mr Said, 75, was buried at Saragoi Muslim Cemetery in Mvita.
His body had first taken to Masjid Sheikh Nurein for a funeral service.
The businessman’s body was flown from South African on Tuesday night and taken to the mosque from his Kizingo home in Mombasa Town at around noon.
The prayers were conducted by Sheikh Muhammad Al Hadi after a sermon by a Muslim scholar, Ustadh Harith Swaleh.
The mosque was filled to capacity. Other residents followed the proceedings from outside. Police temporarily closed the roads near the mosque.
Leaders who attended Said’s burial, included Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar and businessman Suleiman Shahbal, both eyeing the governor’s seat.
Others were former Kisauni MP Ananiah Mwaboza, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, his Msambweni counterpart, Mr Suleiman Dori, Deputy County Commissioner Salim Mahmoud as well as business people from the wider Coast region.
“I want to offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of TSS. In his life, he contributed a lot to the people of Mombasa,” Senator Omar said.
“You can tell what kind of a person he was from the hundreds of people who have converged here for the funeral.”
Mr Shahbal said the death of the tycoon was a blow to the people of Mombasa.
“Mombasa residents will remember TSS for having used his wealth to serve them,” he said.
Mr Nassir said TSS was loved by many because he was a philanthropist.
“He was among the people who advised me when I was planning to join politics. He was very close to my father (former Mombasa Kanu supremo and Cabinet minister) Shariff Nassir. Everyone loved him because he helped many,” the lawmaker, whose father was the Mvita MP for many years, said.
The businessman died at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning.
Mr Mohammed Said said his father was suffering from recurring infections.
“We flew him to South Africa because the illnesses were giving him a lot of problems,” said Mr Said.
“His death was as a result of several illnesses.”
He added that his father had been responding well to treatment.
