We cooked together the night before the wedding- Lucy Kibaki's sister-in-law opens up about her times with former First Lady

 Lucy's sister-in-law Martha Njeri described Lucy as loving, friendly and compassionate

Lucy's sister-in-law Martha Njeri recalled her joy during Jimmy's wedding ceremony and the fun they had during the preparations. "As is customary, we cooked together the night before the wedding, laughed and ate in great camaraderie. It was great to have shared our joys and tribulations," Njeri explained.

She said Lucy was happiest as a mother and grandmother, keeping her family close to her side till the very end.

"Mama Lucy loved her family so much and closely monitored their interactions with other people and guarded her privacy," Njeri said, adding: "During family occasions, she was often kind and never wanted confrontations with close relatives, but she was also very forgiving."

SECOND WIFE

Few people knew how fearlessly she protected her loved ones and their reputations until rumours surfaced about former President Mwai Kibaki's family.

Mama Lucy told off the media, Government officials and diplomats, who she accused of invading her family's privacy.

During her husband's first term in office, she showed the world her determination to protect her family.

To maintain her respect and dignity, there was no limit to the lengths she would go to preserve her motherly image.

In her clear and firm approach to life, she often lashed out at anyone who insinuated the existence of a second wife to former President Mwai Kibaki regardless of their rank or social standing.

Mama Lucy stood beside her husband as he convened a press conference and declared himself monogamous at a time when media speculation was rife that he was in a relationship with another woman.

Lucy then told the Press to keep off the rumour, saying it had caused her and her family great anguish to hear of the lies.

Her concern at the time was to protect her beloved children and husband from the tainted image being perpetuated about their family.

It soon became clear to both the public and international community that Lucy would not entertain any intrusions, however innocent.

Her family remained out of the limelight even after Kibaki left State House, closely guarding her whereabouts.

Nyeri Governor's wife Margaret Nderitu recalled meeting the former First Lady during the homecoming of former President Kibaki that was held at Othaya Stadium after he ascended to Presidency.

 

"I and the then Kieni District Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chair Purity Ngunjiri were accorded the honour of dressing Mama Lucy up as a 'Nyakinyua' -a traditional Kikuyu woman elder, as per the Agikuyu custom befitting the wife of a king," she said.

Shortly after the former President was made a Kikuyu elder, the women had a smaller ceremony to make Lucy a Kikuyu woman elder, which was to qualify her to assist Kibaki.

"Later on, she accompanied me for a visit to Karatina Children's Home, where she interacted freely with the children and gave them gifts and items she had brought with her," said Mrs Nderitu.

She described Lucy as loving, friendly and compassionate despite her standing in society.