Isabella Wangui Waweru recently recounted the events that preceded the death of Kenya’s first President, the Late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
She had served as the founding president's official nurse since she was 28 years old and was present when the Head of States's medical team tried to save his life at his deathbed at the State Lodge in Mombasa.
Wangui explained that earlier in the day, Mzee had looked weak and took a long break during an entertainment session while in Msambweni.
The entourage left for State Lodge but he did not come out of his room the entire evening.
Mama Ngina Kenyatta reached out to Wangui at around 2:00 am to check up on the old man, who sent her away after reassuring that he was okay.
The doubtful nurse contacted Kenyatta’s physician Dr. Eric Mugola, who arrived with a team of four doctors and a nurse.
They attended to Mzee but in the process, he got restless, developed hiccups and within no time the president collapsed.
“We tried our best to save Mzee Kenyatta’s life. We resuscitated him for about 15 minutes but he did not get better. He died at around 3:00 am as I watched in deep pain,” she recounted.
According to information availed to Kenyans.co.ke by his former Social Secretary Elizabeth Madoka, he had suffered from gout which led him to cut back on his alcohol intake.
It caused him severe pain, redness, and swelling in joints. Attacks would come suddenly, often at night.
