We can't be silent anymore amid this agony, says Wahome Gakuru's family

The family of the late Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru has never known peace after the death of their kin who was their breadwinner.

Although he had sworn he could not employ a member of his family in the Nyeri County government to avoid attracting claims of nepotism and conflict of interest, his family saw a brighter future in him after his election.

Their hopes could later be dimmed, three months after Gakuru’s election when he was involved in a grisly road accident after he was badly injured by a guardrail that pierced through his official Mercedes Benz on November 7, 2017.

Since then, life has never been the same.

From his ageing parents who have never known peace to his brothers and sisters who were left with a heavy responsibility of contributing money to facilitate the ongoing inquest which is still active in Nyeri High court.

The late Gakuru’s sister Margaret Wangui Gakuru told The Standard that after her brother’s death, the family found itself in unchartered waters. That of depression and anxiety.

Other than the inquest which is still underway, another battle for succession is in court with two women claiming to be Gakuru’s legitimate wives wanting to inherit his property.

This has only worsened the situation of the rest of the family especially the parents who Wangui says are in anguish five years later.

In an interview, Wangui said the family had actively participated in funding her brother’s governorship campaign, especially their firstborn who was milked dry by the drive.

“Things are thick for our family. Sometimes we feel like there are unseen powers that follow our family from the time Gakuru left us. There are strange things that happen in our family such as diseases that were never there before Gakuru died,” said Wangui who urged men of the cloth to remember them in prayers.

She added that her parents who are 82 and 77 years old could sometimes spend the night without sleeping whenever they remember their son whom they had huge hopes for.

“My parents had great hopes that our brother would change their lives but that remained a pipe dream after his death. They have never settled to date,” said Wangui.

According to Wangui, the promises made during the burial ceremony of Nyeri’s third governor were left to wither alongside the wreath that covered her brother’s grave as none has been implemented.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta made some promises which were hijacked by some people who benefited out of it.

“The devolved unit promised to secure an employment to a member of our family who possesses a degree in political science but he was employed as a casual labourer and bolted out three months later due to frustrations," Wangui added. Gakuru’s nephew is now jobless.

She said her family was devastated when Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga and Mathira lawmaker Rigathi Gachagua obtained court orders not to appear in court in the inquest of Gakuru’s death.

“Our mission should be their mission, ascertaining facts to help the court to understand circumstances that led to the death of our brother. We did not understand why they were opposed to the idea of going to court. This too heart broke our parents and us,” said Wangui while pleading to the leaders to reconsider their decision.

Other promises made were to complete Gakuru's mansion and build a tombstone in his graveyard in his Kanuna village in Nyeri. The house has been deserted and abandoned while the grave was in a sorry state.

After photos of the abandoned grave went viral, friends of the late governor promised to work on it as weeds had started growing on it.

Makara Wambui who is coordinating said the exercise is being carried out by friends and students of the late governor who committed to building a mausoleum in honour of their friend.

“Works are at 60 per cent. We had not chipped in because there were promises to complete the house and the grave. I call on the government to fulfil its promises to the family,” said Wambui.

The governor’s sister urged the judiciary to hasten the inquest for the family to get closure saying the more time the inquest takes, the more they suffer.

“We have never known peace and we shall only settle when the matter will reach to its logical conclusion and the criminals who were after our brother’s life are charged, prosecuted and jailed,” said Wangui.

She further said the family had remained silent for fear of being silenced by those who could have been involved in Gakuru’s death but decided to go public due to tribulations they have faced.

“Enough is enough. We decided that I will finally address our fears for the first time so that those who care may come to our aid even as we urge the government to provide security to us," said Wangui.

The inquest of Gakuru started on January 16 2017 but in March 2019, the State applied to have the hearing deferred following the arrest of Nyeri’s senior resident magistrate Pauline Omungala who was presiding over the case but was arrested over the death of her husband's lawyer Robert Chesang.

In October 2019 the late governor’s estranged wife Catherine Kirumba told the court during an inquest that the late governor had filed a divorce petition but at the time of his death, the proceeding of the divorce, which was registered as Div 299 of 2013, had not started.

On May 6, 2021, Kirumba and her children were given the rights to administer the estate of the late governor by Nyeri High Court judge Abigale Mshila and this attracted opposition from another woman Wangui Mwaura who also claimed to be the late governor’s wife since his separation with Kirumba in 2008.

She claimed to have sired a child with Gakuru after living together from 2010 to 2017, claims that were dismissed by Kirumba who described her as a stranger.

Some of the property Kirumba inherited included two parcels of land in Runda and the other in Ngong and terminal dues from the Nyeri County Government which the complainant wants a share of.