Uhuru Kenyatta's family in mourning after sudden death of brother-in-law
William Gakuo.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family is in mourning following the death of his brother-in-law William Gakuo.
Mr Gakuo, who died at 48, is the younger brother of the former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta. He died on Wednesday.
According to a family statement, the deceased leaves behind a wife, Sheila Wanjiku Mwangi.
“It is with deep sorrow and humble acceptance of God’s will that we announce the passing of William...Brother of Gabriela, Maina, Christine and Margaret,” reads the statement.
The family did not reveal the cause of death, only adding that William’s body will be cremated on November 12 at the Hindu Crematorium in Nairobi’s Kariokor.
A police signal from Karen Police Station alleged that Mr Gakuo died by suicide. It noted that his wife, Sheila, reported that Mr Gakuo was found hanging from the corridor leading to his bedroom and that he had a suicide note next to him.
The signal classified the incident as Pending Under Investigations (PUI) by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, adding that the body is being preserved at the Lee Funeral home.
The family’s statement dedicated a Bible verse: “If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to God”. (Romans 14:8)
After his brother-in-law was sworn in as the fourth president of Kenya, William said in a statement: “I am happy for you sister...Our family supports, we are all happy as a family and for the country.”
“It is a milestone to behold. We cherish the moment and glory be to God our fort,” he added.
With his roots in Murang’a County’s Kangema constituency, the deceased was born of Dr Ephantus Njuguna Gakuo, a former director of the Kenya Railways Corporation, and a German mother, Magdalena Njuguna.
Dr Njuguna became the first African managing director of Kenya Railways after taking over from GPG Mackay in 1964, coincidentally the year Mama Margaret was born.
He took over the corporation after he returned from Germany where he had taught for a year after graduating with a PhD in Economics from Freiberg University. Dr Njuguna held on to this post for 12 years and left in 1976 when William was born. He died in 2005.
Mr Stephen Maina, a long-time friend of Mr Gakuo, described him as “a low profile gentleman who loved his privacy”.
“He was a generous dude, hated being discussed in the prominence of the first family, did not love political debates and only valued discussions that sought empowerment,” said Mr Maina.
He revealed that most of the time, he kept to himself “but he never seemed to run dry of something to share with buddies as we kept him in stitches referring to him as the only mzungu (white man) with a Mùgíkûyû name”.
On Saturday, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu said that the death was a blow to Murang’a County.
“We in Murang’a know the great attachment the Gakuo family has with us as County 021. We know the family roots are very firm here even at the county assembly...As their roots’ senator, I express my condolences,” he said.
Murang’a County Assembly Speaker Johnson Mukuha is a family member of the greater Gakuo family.
“Rest in Peace...Eternal peace be with you,” Mr Mukuha said.
Mr Kenyatta’s cousin, Kung’u Muigai said: “We are sorry as a family. We pray for God’s unfailing grace in helping close relatives fortitude to bear the loss”.
“We are overwhelmed by the empathy we are getting as a family following William’s death,” he added.
Mr Joseph Kaguthi, a long-time administrator, said: “I saw William as a small boy...I was working in the Kenyatta government then”.
He added: “I also saw the gentleman during Kenyatta’s wedding ceremony at the Holy Family Basilica in 1989 when he was a teenager. It is sad to be informed he is dead”.
