It is five days since the unfortunate terror attack that left at least 22 people dead at the Dusit hotel complex. As we try to come to terms with what happened, we also celebrate the lifes of those who died in the attack.
One particular story is that of Bernadette Akinyi Konjalo, the revenue director at dusitD2 Hotel, was brutally killed by terrorists while she was helping her colleagues and guests run to safety.
Ms Konjalo, who had previously worked at Tribe Hotel in Nairobi, was seen by her colleagues and guests at the upscale hotel guiding occupants to safe exit points, after sounds of gunshots and blasts rang out Tuesday afternoon.
While at the entrance, the plucky manager came face-to-face with terrorists. Her reflexes, expectedly, drove her to run toward inner spaces of the hotel.
The terrorists fired a bullet at her, which pierced through her left hand that she was using to shield her face. The gun ball drove into the right side of her face, killing Ms Konjalo on the spot.
“She died while saving lives, and it is sad we would never be able to pay her back for that selfless deed,” said her colleague.
Ms Konjalo worked at Tribe Hotel for six years before moving to dusitD2 Hotel in March, 2014, where she rose up the ranks from the position of assistant front office manager to the director of revenue.
A dedicated, lively and loving person are the words her colleagues at dusitD2 Hotel use to describe the last born in a family of four siblings. Bernadette has been euologised as a people-person, who did not tire paying her cousins’ and other relatives’ school fees.
The January 15 dusitD2 Hotel terror attack left at least 21 dead, with 700 occupants being evacuated to safety.
The four terrorists, responsible for the fatal attack, were killed early Wednesday, January 16.