Kenyans took to social media platforms to mourn Nyeri Governor Dr Wahome Gakuru following his untimely death in a grisly road accident early Tuesday at Kabati near Kenol on the Nyeri-Thika highway.
Dr Wahome was rushing to Nairobi to take part in a morning talk show on Kameme TV when the accident occurred. His Mercedes Benz official car hit a side railing, which teared through it from end to end giving the governor who sitting on the back left with no chance of survival. Police say the accident occurred following a tyre burst. His driver and personal aide are admitted at Thika Level V Hospital in critical condition.
Dr Wahome succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident as the Council of Governors was preparing to airlift him to Nairobi Hospital. His body was transferred to Nairobi’s Lee Funeral Home by Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu and his Murang’a counterpart Mwangi Wairia.
It is the second time Nyeri is losing a governor after the first occupier of the office Nderitu Gachagua also died a few months to the end of his term following a long illness.
Dr Gakuru’s deputy Mutahi Kahiga will now take over for the remainder of the term, as stipulated in the in Article 182 of the Constitution.
Many of those who mourned the late governor described him as a visionary leader who was keen to translate lessons learnt from his time as the first director general of Kenya Vision 2030 to transform the county.
President Uhuru Kenyatta described the late governor as committed, visionary and tireless leader.
“Governor Gakuru was a great leader and an action-oriented man who – upon his victory in the August 8 election – did not waste time but embarked on serving the people of Nyeri with diligence and commitment,” President Uhuru said.
Others who expressed shock at his demise when fellow governors Ali Hassan Joho, Mike Sonko, Wycliffe Oparanya, Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i and MPs Gladys Wanga and Otiende Amollo.
Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula tweeted: “I have learnt with extreme shock and consternation the tragic accident of Gov Gakuru of Nyeri. He was a friend who stood for unity of Kenya.”
Former Nyeri Women Representative Priscilla Nyokabi tweeted: “Sad news on the loss of our Governor Gakuru. In Uhuruto Team 2 we were calling him Mtoto wa Mau Mau. Ametuacha. RIP. God Bless Nyeri.”
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja had this to say: “A calm gentleman, an erudite economist, a visionary leader, a down to earth politician. We have lost a great man in Dr. Gakuru. Go well bro.”
Journalist who have had encounters with Dr Gakuru were not left behind.
KTN News anchor Betty Kyalo tweeted: Just yesterday morning I had an interview with the late Dr. Wahome Gakuru he spoke passionately about plans to revive trade. This Life
.”
People Daily business reporter Gitahi Ngunyi wrote on Facebook: “Can’t stop the tears… He was a good man.. Loved his country and his work… Every time we met he kept reminding me that he owed a special duty to his PhD students at UoN School of Business… RIP Dr Wahome Gakuru, my friend.”
Radio Africa Group Business Editor Peter Kiragu also wrote: “Exactly one week to the August 8 polls, I travelled all the way to Nyeri for an interview with the incoming governor (he had won the Jubilee nominations) Wahome Gakuru. The man had such great vision for the county. Being the pioneer Vision 2030 director general, his dream was to replicate the aspirations of the national economic blueprint in Nyeri. In his words, Nyeri was going to become a model county where all the others would come running for lessons on how to manage a county. I believed him, partly, because i had seen his stellar performance at Vision 2030 and Equity Bank.”
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“I was to go back after the election for a strategy on how we could help him achieve some of these dreams. I called him after he won the hot seat but he never picked. Neither did he respond to my congratulatory SMSes. But he was always a busy man, perhaps explaining why he could not pick my calls or SMS. I had hopes that with time, he was going to pick my phone and we could finalise on our plans. Well, i was wrong. He will never pick my calls!! We shall never implement our plan! I will never join his communications team! But such is life…RIP Daktari!! Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor takes over from Dr. Gakuru!” he added.
Former People Daily Magazines Associate Editor Millicent Muthoni wrote: I will always remember Dr Gakuru as the man who restored my hope in this country. I woke up one day in 2008 to hear him speak on TV about Vision 2030 and the future foreseen for this country. For once, I felt happy to be a Kenyan ‘youth’. There was a future and it was in the hands of critical thinkers. Go well Dr Gakuru. You did your part, at least for some disillusioned young Kenyan.”
