KEY POINTS:
New Zealand-based Olivado is going ahead with its $2.5 million avocado oil extraction factory in Kenya, despite the murder of its owner's father in Nairobi last month.
Julian Nathan, 76, father of Olivado owner Chris Nathan, was bludgeoned to death by up to five armed robbers in an apartment complex where he and two employees were staying while helping to set up the plant.
Survivors Ray Kensington, from Australia, and New Zealander Phil Civil flew home after the attack and are unwilling to return to Kenya.
Olivado was due to open the factory the week Mr Nathan was killed.
The company's marketing director, John Ellegard, said that while there was doubt in the immediate aftermath of the attack about whether the factory would proceed, a number of people had volunteered their time to complete the project this week.
These included one of Olivado's original shareholders, Alan Mountford - also general manager of Gull Petroleum subsidiary Terminals NZ - who offered to take six weeks' leave to help out in Nairobi.
He joined Olivado chairman Gary Hannam and an engineer who was made available from Italy's Alpha-Laval.
Chris Nathan said his father's death was not a reason to avoid Kenya. He said he was more determined than ever that Olivado stayed in the country in his father's memory.
Mr Ellegard said the attack on the Olivado workers had delayed the opening of the factory, which meant the company had missed out on the main part of the local avocado season.
"On the flip-side, the end of the season is when you get the most oil out of the fruit, so what we will be producing will be a lot better for us."
Mr Nathan's killers have not been found, despite early confidence by the Nairobi police. "Obviously, the trail's going colder now," Mr Ellegard said.
- NZPA
