Machakos Senator: Widowed teacher's medical checkup ended tragically in city apartment with married politician

At Wote town, the headquarters of Makueni County, Esther Nthenya Muli is a well-known figure. Esther is the gorgeous teacher who had booked a room with Machakos Senator Boniface Kabaka at a Nairobi apartment before the legislator collapsed and was rushed to hospital.

Kabaka, a lawyer, is a first time Senator. He has two wives. The stunning deputy principal and secondary school Kiswahili teacher runs a popular club in Wote where she is said to be highly sociable and outgoing.

For several years, Nthenya, a widow, taught at Makueni Boys in the outskirts of Wote where boys under the grip of runaway hormones nicknamed her Ihuoma, the cute character in Nigerian Elechi Amadi’s novel, The Concubine.
Ihuoma possessed bewitching beauty, a disarming smile, inimitable charm — an epitome of femininity to whom men got attracted like moths to a lamp.

Nthenya was transferred to Mathemba Secondary School in Makueni. Her husband, who died a couple of years ago, was a businessman in Wote town.

The family ran a chain of wines and spirits outlets which Nthenya took over and even upgraded one to a club. This club is popular with men for its reverberating  live music,  a galaxy of lithe girls in sensual dance moves aimed at melting their hearts in the sweltering heat of  Wote. Nthenya, 50, often visits the club to unwind and make merry with patrons.

“We all know her, most people do. She is one of us,” said a local.
Nthenya had sought sick leave before news broke that she was in the company of Kabaka before the ever reticent senator collapsed and was rushed to a Nairobi hospital at night.  It all started on December 2, when Nthenya left school at around 5pm after informing Isaack Mutua, the school principal, she would be away the following day as she had a doctor’s appointment.

A source told The Nairobian that Nthenya “left school on Wednesday evening after work. She had permission not to come on Thursday since she was supposed to see a doctor.”
Nthenya was expected back on Friday, but called on Thursday evening seeking an extension of her sick leave as she had been referred to  a hospital in Nairobi.

Mutua, the school principal when reached, declined to comment, saying the matter was out of his control.  “This matter is being handled by my superiors. I will not comment.”  

 

Machakos Senator Boniface Kabaka. He was rushed to hospital from city apartment in critical condition [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO]

According to an affidavit filed by investigating officer Jason Matete, Kabaka drove himself to the apartments. At around 3pm, he was joined by Nthenya.

“From the apartment, they ordered drinks and food through telephone from the nearby 3Dee restaurant.
The food was delivered and served by the apartment’s employees,” said Matete.
According to police accounts, hours after the two had retired to bed and in the dead of the night, Kabaka suddenly fell sick, vomited and collapsed.

Nthenya alerted apartment caretakers who called for an ambulance. Kabaka was rushed to a Nairobi hospital where he was wheeled to the Intensive Care Unit. Kabaka hails from Kabaa in Mwala constituency.  He has two wives.

His first wife’s home is in Ekalakala ward in Masinga constituency while the second wife lives in Kabaa.
He  was elected as Machakos Senator on a Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) ticket, replacing Johnstone Muthama who opted not to defend the seat.