Former DP Rigathi Gachagua and his late aunt Gladys Gathoni who passed on today in the afternoon. Photo: Rigathi Gachagua X.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been thrown into mourning following the death of his only surviving aunt Gladys Gathoni today in the afternoon, after being taken ill yesterday night.
Gachagua mourned the late as a loving person, his personal cheerleader and mentor, after the death of his mother in 2019, which he has said has refreshened his memories following her death.
“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. Aunt Gathoni was my only surviving Aunt of my mother’s side, and since the demise of my mum, she has been my mother, my mentor, my cheerleader, and a prayer worrier so loving,” Gachagua mourned.
Describing their special bond, the former DP narrated that how the late build his political career, through the folktales of Mau Mau struggles and fight against the colonialists, where Gathoni and his late mother were involved.
Gachagua said that he used to pass by her home while still in office where they together enjoyed a cup of porridge and boiled maize. He further recounted his childhood memory with her in the farm, where they enjoyed yellow fresh passion fruit from her farm.
“As young lads, we used to call her ‘tata wa matunda’ (the fruits’ Aunt) because of the yellow passion she grew on her farm, which we used to so dearly enjoy. While in the office and in the village, I used to take my morning walk and pass by her house to enjoy a heavy and hot breakfast of porridge and boiled maize. We would laugh and laugh to her folktales, Mau Mau songs, unending stories of Mau Mau struggle and forest experiences where she and my late mother were in the cause while fighting the colonialists,” Gachagua recounted.
Interestingly, Gachagua revealed that his recent quest to unite the Meru community is a call he received from his aunt, who urged him to re-unite with his family from Meru, the roots of his mother, as she used to call him ‘Kiana Kia Mwari’ (son of a daughter).
