SHERIFF NASSIR ABDALLAH TAIB

.patriot who served community
with humility and dedication

Coastweek - - Thousands of mourners attended the burial of the longest serving Member of Parliament from Coast Province, Sheriff Nassir Abdallah Taib, held at Sarigoi Muslim cemetery last Sunday.

Kanu Majengo sub-branch vice-chairman, Ibrahim Khamis Zito said Nassir's burial was attended by a record of mourners. 

"All in my life, I have never seen so many people having attended the burial the way they came out to bury our hero," added Zito.

Among the prominent politicians who attended the burial were the leaders of the official opposition party, Uhuru Kenyatta, Mombasa Mayor Taib Ali Taib and former ministers, Raila Odinga, Najib Balala and Morris Dzoro.

Others included MPs, Ramadhan Seif Kajembe, William Ruto, Ali Wario, Gideon Moi, Abu Chiaba and Fahim Twaha.

Former MPs, Rashid Sajjad, Mohamed Hashim, Mohamed Jahazi, Chibule wa Tsuma and former Malindi Mayor Gideon Mungaro, were also present.

In his message of condolences, President Mwai Kibaki described the late Mr Nassir as a patriot who served the Kenyan community with humility and dedication.

Former President Daniel arap Moi who was Mr Nassir's personal friend, said the deceased would be remembered for his astuteness in mobilizing the masses for any cause he believed in.

Vice-President Moody Awori said the death has robbed Kenyans of a great person who had interests of his people at heart.

The VP described the former Minister of State as a good Kenyan who played a major role in improving the living standards of his people.

He said he had known Mr Nassir for over 20 years as a principled politician.

Kanu national chairman Uhuru Kenyatta said the late Nassir was like his father adding that the death has robbed the country of a principled, staunch and unwavering member of opposition party, Kanu.

Other messages of condolences came from former Saudi Arabian Ambassador, HE Said Hemed Said, Mr Jahazi, former Mombasa Mayor Rajab Sumba and Kanu executive officer, Julius Sunkuli.

Kanu Mvita branch executive committee led by its vice-chairman Mohamed Said Abdalla felt the branch has lost a leader whose leadership qualities cannot be matched and that he has left a gap which would be difficult to be filled.

The branch will hold special prayers (Khitma) for the late Mr Nassir at Kanu headquarters in Majengo tomorrow (Saturday) from 4.30 p.m.

Mr Nassir was born in 1926 in Lamu and was educated at Serani primary School (formerly known as Arab Boys School) and Shimo la Tewa Secondary School where he took junior and senior Cambridge examinations.

He joined politics before independence where he was one of the top Coast Peoples Party (CPP) leaders.

After independence, Mr Nassir joined Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) whose leader was former Cabinet Minister in Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's regime, the late Mr Ronald G Ngala.

When KADU was disbanded, Mr Ngala and Mr Nassir joined the Kenya African National Union (KANU), former being the chairman of the Mombasa branch with the later as vice-chairman.

Mr Nassir was a Councillor representing Makadara ward before he was elected the Mombasa Central (now Mvita) Member of Parliament when he defeated Mr Jahazi during the 1974 general elections.

He continued to be the area MP until the 2002 general elections when he lost the seat he occupied for 24 years to the current MP Mr Najib Balala.

hen Mr Ngala died in 1972, Mr Nassir took over the branch leadership.

He later became the Mvita branch chairman till his death.

Special prayers have been held at Khonzi, Nuurein (TSS), Sheikh Jundani and Noor Mosques.

Mr Swaleh Abdallah Taib, a younger brother of the late Nassir, thanked all those who participated in one way or another in the funeral arrangements.

"Our family is happy that the funeral of our beloved family member was attended by a record crowd which is a testimony that he was a good man," said Taib on behalf of Mr Nassir's family.

May the Almighty Allah rest his soul in eternal peace, Amin.

- Abdulrahman Sheriff, Mombasa.

.