Cross posted on KenyaUnlimited
These past few days Kenyan newspapers and news stations have been dominated with the news of the end of Dr.Wanjiru Kihoro’s brave battle from coma which she has been fighting since January, 24 2003. Dr. Kihoro went into a coma following the Busia plane crash in which three people were killed. She had accompanied a high-profile government delegation to Funyula to celebrate Vice-President Moody Awori’s election victory. The end came at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, at 10pm on Thursday.
Dr. Kihoro was a true patriot, a strong daughter of Kenya, highly principled in an age where people’s convictions change with the direction of the wind.
In Kenya, where she took on the Moi regime on human rights abuses when most were to scared to speak out, she showed patriotism and courage. Refusing to be broken by the arrest and detention of her husband, Wanyiri Kihoro, and colleagues by Moi’s notorious security forces, she showed patriotism and courage. As the founder and director of ABANTU for Development, an international development agency, Dr. Kihoro’s vision, inspiration and direction touched and changed the lives of many.
Forced into exile after detention, the Kihoro’s London house came to be known as the true home of Kenyans in the UK. For many years, it was the first point of contact for many Kenyans in the UK before the embassy. These past few days I have heard story after story from a wide range of people all saying how warmly they were welcomed into the Kihoro’s London home, how they were feed enthusiastically. The Kihoro home was a place where they could sit and debate the issues of the day openly and honestly. A warm meal, a place to sleep and the kinship of country(wo)men. Today many gratefully remember that welcome.
Closer to home, here on the Kenyan Blogs Webring, the pain is real and more personal for some. Kui has lost her mother, Mshairi, Uaridi, Nyakehu have lost their elder sister. A highly dedicated, extremely warm and strongly united family. My thoughts and prayers are with them. Together we will create a space online where we and you, if you so wish, can pay tribute to Dr. Kihoro, share your stories of your time with Kihoro family. This space will be announced soon.
Dr Wanjiru Kihoro, wife, mother, sister, daughter, economist, activist, feminist, patriot, visionary, leader, friend. An inspiration and example for all Kenyans.
Daudi
On the behalf of the Kenyan Blogs Webring Admin Team
Pamoja Tuangamize Ukimwi
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October 16, 2006 at 3:11 pm
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October 16, 2006 at 5:22 pm
Guessaurus
Hi D,
Thank you for doing this tribute. It has been hard in a way listening to the news and reading papers about this especially because of Kui, Mshairi, Uaridi n Nyakehu - not forgetting the rest of the family too. Hope God gives them the courage to deal with these extremely difficult times.
My prayers are with the family
October 16, 2006 at 6:41 pm
girlie
Nice tribute mental.
To Kui, Mshairi, Uaridi, Nyakehu and the entire family, may the peace of God which passes all understanding be with you.
May her soul rest in peace!
October 16, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Mutumia
My sympathies and condolences go out to Kui and her family and Mshairi, Uaridi and Nyakehu. May God be with them in this difficult time.
Thank you for posting this.
October 16, 2006 at 7:41 pm
ndesanjo
Mola awape nguvu akina Mshairi, Kui, Uaridi, na Nyakehu kutokana na msiba huu. Wanablogu wa Kiswahili tunawapa pole zetu.
October 16, 2006 at 7:43 pm
kipepeo
may she rest in peace….
October 16, 2006 at 8:05 pm
Irena
My sympathies to Kui and Family for their loss, may God provide you with strength at this difficult time. Dr. Wanjiru was an inspiration and beacon of light in her work. Her candle burnt out long before,her legend ever will. Again, my condolences to Kui and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
October 16, 2006 at 9:38 pm
Kenyan Analyst
Peace.
October 17, 2006 at 1:30 am
Kui
D, thanks for doing this. I don’t even know how to thank you. You know you have done so much. Be seeing you soon dude.
October 17, 2006 at 2:45 am
uaridi
Weingo, asante, asane sana for the lovely tribute. You are a star.
There are no words to express what is in my heart.
(Now I am going to have to make those gloves for you!!! )
October 17, 2006 at 2:53 am
Whispering Inn
Kui and the rest of the Kihoro family, poleni sana kwa msiba.
October 17, 2006 at 4:21 pm
Shiroh
May God give you the strength to cope with the loss. Kui & Family, my condolences.
October 18, 2006 at 11:56 am
KM
Heartfelt condolences to the Kihoro family and friends.
October 18, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Kenyan Pundit
Sincere condolences to MJY and family.
October 18, 2006 at 5:07 pm
sokari
Thank you for writing this tribute especially for those of us who were not aware of Dr Kihoro and her contribution to Kenya. My sympathies and prayers go out to Kui, Mshairi, Uaridi, Nyakeh and their whole family
October 18, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Rombo
My condolences to Mama Junkyard and the rest of the family.
October 19, 2006 at 1:21 pm
sophie Ogutu
A poem for Dr. Wanjiru Kihoro
She Never Begun………
When others thought that freedom had finally come,
Wanjiru rejected the neo-colonial yard sticks for success
and instead
decided to climb rungs constructed
by independence visionaries symbolized by
mau mau,
Mekatilili wa Menza,
Dini ya Msambwa, Muthoni Nyanjiru
among others………….
When others were dancing to the song of betrayal
uhuru na kazi,
she stuck with the mau mau’s
“uhuru na mashamba”……….
When others sought
Election through sycophancy….
Wanjiru re-inforced Chelagat Mutai,
Bildad Kaggia,
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Seroney and JM Kariuki
In the struggle for a people’s democracy…
When others struggled to win jobs
As educated intellectuals in
The Neo-colonial hierarchies
Wanjiru opted for the non-paying,
risky job of educating and organizing
Progressive forces for the fight against dictatorship.
When others chose to acquire land and posh homes through unpatriotic
loyalties,
She fought for the release of patriots from prison
She trained fighters for the recognition of slum dwellers
And squatters’ right to the space they occupied.
Do you remember the mothers at the freedom corner?
Because of her firm belief in a beginning for all
By all
And for the benefit of all
A PHD holding economist,
A teacher, a worker, and a political leader.
Dr. Wanjiru Kihoro
NEVER began
October 20, 2006 at 5:24 am
wambui mwangi
As always, my brother, you have your finger on what is really important. I mourn too, but I also celebrate the courage and the pathebreaking pattern of this life. She was, so that we all can be.
Thus, she becomes my ancestor: those who have gone before, so that I and other women can be what we need to be.
All respect.
Her work will never die, so neither will she.
MKW–the Mad One.
October 26, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Ostalgia
my heartfelt condolences to Kui and family.
November 1, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Elizabeth Cakuru
It saddens me to hear that Dr. Kihoro is no more. A very brave and strong woman I met once I went to the Africa Centre Library. I was privileged to be accepted in her circles, together with others we worked on formation of Akina Mama Wa Africa, the first origanizations she spearheaded.
Only today, when I ventured to visit the internet site of Abantu for Development did I know….. so late….
My sincere condolences to Wanyiri, Wanjiru’s children, Nish and the whole family.
July 13, 2007 at 11:15 am
kipchumba
usually hard to understand and actually agree when situatian that leaves room to question so much without coming to solution. i only swing to appreciate who God is for hope and peace to tranquil our life