Kenya: Wanjiru Finally Laid to Rest in Nyahururu

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Wanjohi Gakio

13 June 2011

Olympic Marathon Champion Samuel Wanjiru was over the weekend laid to rest in a glamorous but sorrowful ceremony. A guard of honour was mounted by the Regular Police who fired 21 gunshots in the air. Wanjiru was a police corporal.

Widow Trizah Njeri and her brother Simon Njoroge were among scores of relatives and friends who sat pensively as the ceremony at Nyahururu Municipal Stadium.

Conspicuously absent was the athlete’s mother Hannah Wanjiru who lost the battle to have the body remain at the morgue till the cause of his death is established. Sources said she spent the day at her home in Muthaiga estate in Nyahururu. Also absent was all the three men claiming to be Wanjiru’s father as well as two women claiming to be his widows.

Other than Elijah Chebon, the other men who have claimed to be Wanjiru’s father have gone quiet. Chebon has lodged a case in court to prove his paternity.

The women claiming to be Wanjiru’s widow, Judy Wambui and Mary Wachera, have been providing moral support to the athlete’s mother while making attempts to block the burial.

The burial was attended by Industrialisation assistant minister Nderitu Mureithi who represented President Mwai Kibaki, Olkalou MP Erastus Mureithi, Athletics Kenya Secretary General David Okeyo, National Olympic Committee of Kenya boss Kipchoge Keino and a host of current and former atheletes.

In his message of condolence, Kibaki termed Wanjiru’s demise as a great loss to Kenya and asked God to comfort the family.

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