Philanthropist and Mombasa businessman Hasmukh Kanji Bhudia has passed away. He was the owner of Tororo Cement and has been running several charity projects in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties.
Hasmukh, popularly known as Hasubhai, suffered a massive heart attack at his residence in Mombasa, last week. According to his family members, he breathed his last while being rushed to the hospital.
Hasubhai who was born in Photdi village of Bhuj taluka, made Mombasa his karmabhoomi. While his elder brother Arvind was studying at the University of Massachusetts in the US, Hasubhai decided to quit his studies and start working at the age of 17. After studying in Kenya, he joined a business management course at Kingston University in the UK and founded the Mombasa Cement Company in 2007. Arvindbhai also joined the family business.
Despite living across the seven seas, he did not forget his native Kutch. He has donated millions of rupees for the education and health sectors in Kutch and was the foremost donor of the Patel community of Kutch. He initiated free education for Kachchi Leva Patel girls for 25 years. He was also been instrumental for the running of the Leva Patel Hospital in Bhuj. During his visit to Kutch this year, he announced girls' education at a token fee of one rupee. African countries also benefited from his generous donation. He became famous by building schools, hospitals, roads, canals,etc.
His body was placed for public viewing before being cremated at the Hindu crematorium in Mombasa. The news of Hasubhai's death has shocked the Patel community and the villages of Kutchi Lewa. Mahant Dharmanandandasji of Bhuj Swaminarayan Temple has paid tribute and said that the sect and society have lost a unique servant with the death of Hasubhai.
Patel was running several charity projects in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties that benefitted hundreds of thousands of residents in the three counties.
He was running a feeding program at the Kibarani Miracle Park, which he helped rejuvenate from a dumpsite on orders of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. The program was feeding at least 40,000 people daily.
He was also running a hospital program at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital where patients who fail to pay their bills have them paid for by the company.
Relatives who cannot afford to buy decent coffins for their lost loved ones ran to him for help and he catered for their transportation to various parts of the country.
Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir in a tweet Thursday afternoon mourned his death.
"We have learnt with sadness the passing of businessman Hasmukh Patel of Mombasa Cement Limited in Mombasa," tweeted Nassir
He said Hasubhai will be remembered for his active participation in societal affairs in Mombasa as well as his generous support for the underprivileged.
"I take this opportunity on behalf of the county government of Mombasa to offer deepest condolences to the family of the departed," Nassir said.
Kenyan President William Ruto, Ugandan President Museveni's family members, Ministers of the nation, Governor of Mombasa and dignitaries including the Governor of Mombasa paid their respects and expressed their condolences to the family at the Mombasa Leuva Patel Community Hall.
At 4 pm at the Hindu Smashan Bhoomi, the sky was filled with chants of 'Hasubhai Amar Raho' as Hasubhai's sons Darshak, Kirtan and Dhruv and nephew Suraj cremated the body.
Tributes were offered at UK Community on Sunday. While, on Monday, September 2 from 8 am at Bhuj, a prayer meeting was held at 5 pm at Mombasa.
