NYERI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is mourning the death of his only surviving maternal aunt, Gladys Gathoni Kahua, who passed away on Saturday after a brief illness.
Gachagua announced the loss in a deeply emotional message posted on his X page, describing it as one of the most painful moments since the passing of his mother in 2019.
“Today, I am at my lowest since I lost my mother,” Gachagua wrote.
According to the former DP, he was alerted at 3 a.m. that his aunt had fallen ill and directed that she be rushed to Jamii Hospital in Karatina.
By 9 a.m., doctors had assured him she was stable. However, while making his way to visit her later in the day, a heavy traffic jam near Ruiru caused a delay.
“I arrived at the hospital at 4:10 p.m. only to be told I was five minutes late,” he said.
Today, I am at my lowest since I lost my mother in 2019. I was called at 3.00 a.m. last night and informed that my only surviving Aunt Gladys Gathoni Kahua had been taken ill, and I needed to see her urgently.I did guide that she be taken to Jamii Hospital in Karatina Town and
“Tata wa Matunda”: A Mentor, Mother, and Mau Mau Heroine
Gachagua eulogized his aunt as more than just a relative — describing her as a mother figure, mentor, and prayer warrior, who became a central pillar in his life after the death of his mother.
Known affectionately as “Tata wa Matunda” (the fruits’ aunt), Gathoni was cherished for the passion fruits she grew and the warmth she extended to family and community alike.
He recounted fond memories of childhood mornings spent at her home, sharing hot porridge, boiled maize, and laughter-filled stories — especially about her time as a Mau Mau freedom fighter, alongside his late mother during Kenya’s struggle for independence.
“She called me the apple of her eye and her favourite son,” he shared. “I have lost a mentor and a counselor. I feel hollow, down, and abandoned.”
Gachagua extended his sympathies to Gathoni’s children, grandchildren, and residents of Inono village in Mathira, Nyeri County, who often joined him for meals and visits at her home.
“I share this grief with the people of Inono village who always accompanied me to her house for breakfast. We will miss her dearly.”
