Mzee Ali Muhammad (Seated) being feted by President Uhuru Kenyatta once at State House. The famous businessman has passed on. [Photo|nepjournal.com]
Mzee Ali Muhammad popularly known as Ali Kabati passed on at his home in Thika town yesterday afternoon aged 98.
His daughter Fatma Ali Muhammud said that his father passed on during the morning prayers. “He died while saying La Illaha Ila Llah,,” Fatma said.The icon, who was last year honoured by President Uhuru Kenyatta for his service to the nation will be remembered by residents for his service to the community and the country.Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohammed who attended Ali’s burial at Thika Muslim Cemetery eulogized him as a respected leader who contributed to building harmonious relationships and building bridges among communities that live in the region.“The looks of the people who attended his burial demonstrates that he was a loved and much-respected leader. His longtime contributions in uniting locals and communities here will remain with us,”The CS who also conveyed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s message of condolences to the family called on local leaders in the region to emulate Ali’s way of leadership so as to promote peace and cohesion among locals.Thika town MP Patrick Wainaina said that the deceased will ever be in Thika people’s hearts because during his era of leadership Thika town was ranked as the second cleanest town in the country.“He also raised health services access when he was the minister of public health under the defunct Thika Municipal Council in 1997. He was a wise and opinion leader,” Wainaina said.Condition and above all went extra miles to create job opportunities for Thika people. We have surely lost a noble leader,” Njihia said.The president conferred Ali with the Elder of Burning Spear (EBS) having served for 47 years as a councillor and a Deputy Mayor in the defunct Thika Municipal council.The deceased who hailed from the Isaack Clan of the Somali tribe will also be in remembered as fought for independence alongside Kikuyu men under the Mau Mau banner and movement.