Mercia Muliro: The ‘Bukusu girl’ Masinde Muliro brought home from South Africa

By Grace Wekesa | 8yrs ago | 2 min read

In 1954, Masinde Muliro came back home with a BA degree from the University of Cape Town and Mercia (pictured), a South African beauty who would later be described as a champion of education and strong-willed community development mobiliser.

Mercia quickly grasped the Bukusu culture, customs and traditions and became the pillar behind her politician husband.

Burudi Nabwera, former ambassador and Cabinet minister describes the late 92-year-old as a straightforward woman who spoke her mind, complemented her husband’s political career and ensured many youth were educated.

Nabwera vividly recalls how the deceased quickly adopted Luhya culture and could fluently communicate in all Luhya dialects: “A visitor would not easily recognise Mercia was a foreigner because of how she carried herself and spoke. I remember when we visited her family in Cherangany one time. Mercia was welcoming and knew how to treat elders and youth according to Luhya culture. She knew what to serve and when to serve,’’ recalls Nabwera.

Nominated MP and the Chair of Luhya Council of Elders Patrick Wangamati explained that Mercia was also a politician in her own right, having served as a councillor in Trans-Nzoia and Bungoma.

She helped youth in the two counties get education and some went abroad to further their studies as a result of her generosity, he says.

Wangamati said the country has lost a great woman and called on leaders to honour the late and her husband by putting up a statue in Kitale to recognise their contribution to society.

Mercia, who passed on September 25, will be buried on October 10 at her Sibanga farm, Cherangany in Trans-Nzoia County, closing a chapter in the life of one of Kenya’s most respected and illustrious politicians.