The late Mombasa Cement Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hasmukh Patel was on Sunday afternoon cremated at the Hindu Crematorium in Mombasa after he passed away following a short illness.

Patel’s body was placed on a chair atop a special vehicle that was driven across the city in a grand procession stretching from Pandya Memorial Hospital through Mombasa CBD to New Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj Hall along Links Road, behind Shree Swaminarayan Academy and SOS School in Nyali.

Along the way, his body was taken to five Hindu temples within Mombasa, and to his home in Nyali where family members and relatives paid their last respects.

Mourners lined the streets of Mombasa to honour Patel.

At New Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj Hall in Nyali, thousands from all walks of life gathered to pay tribute.

Patel’s body was positioned at the centre of the hall, still seated on a chair, as leaders from various sectors remembered him as a towering figure and an embodiment of humanity.

Patel passed away while being rushed to a private hospital in Nyali.

Tudor MCA Samir Bhalo, a close family member, confirmed his death, saying the CEO was only sick for two days.

“Today at around 1pm, we lost Mr Hasmukh Patel, the CEO of Mombasa Cement. He was just ill for about two days. He died on the way to hospital,” he said on Thursday.