Raila Odinga has mourned the late business magnate Naushad Merali who passed on this morning in Nairobi. Aged 70, Naushad Merali was ranked as the 48th richest person in Africa by Forbes in 2015. Taking to Twitter on Saturday, the ODM leader revealed Mr. Merali was part of a team tasked by the government, under the Prime Minister’s office to ensure the country’s economic recovery after the ruins of 2007/2008 post-election violence.
”He possessed unique business acumen. I recall working with him closely in the post-election violence economic recovery program and the PM’s round table on social and economic reforms,” Raila tweeted.
More than 1,000 Kenyans died in clashes over the nation’s disputed election results in 2007 which in turn stunted the country’s economy.
A statement by the Shia Ithna Ashri Jamaat secretariat said the billionaire’s burial will be held today Saturday, July 3.
“It is the family’s request that Covid protocols be adhered to firmly hence, only immediate members of the family and those assisting with the burial proceedings to attend. The family thanks you for honouring this request,” it said.
At the time of his passing, Mr Merali was the Chairperson of the Sameer Group, a conglomerate in Kenya with a regional presence in East Africa and deep rooted interests in agriculture and agribusiness, trading and commerce, construction and engineering, commercial and leasing, EPZs, energy and real estate.