UPDATE:
President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a message of condolence in which he hailed Kariuki as a serial entrepreneur who created thousands of jobs for young Kenyans.
"Kenya has lost a great patriot and a business icon who believed in the Kenyan market. As an entrepreneur, Mr Kariuki's businesses created thousands of jobs for our youth," the President noted.
Uhuru further praised Kariuki for his dedication to improving the socio-economic well-being of Kenyans around the country.
He assured Kariuki's family of his support during the difficult mourning period.
Veteran opposition politician and prominent Kiambu businessman Lawrence Nginyo Kariuki is dead at 82.
Kariuki, who fought for multiparty democracy alongside other second liberation heroes, reportedly passed on at the Aga Khan University Hospital on the morning of Monday, February 24.
He was also the founding Chairman of the The National Alliance (TNA) party which President Uhuru Kenyatta used in his successful bid for the Presidency in 2013.
An astute businessman, Kariuki was also the owner of Nginyo Towers on Nairobi's Moktar Daddah street among several other businesses. He was also a farmer, golfer and was behind the Lenana Mount Hotel which was among ventures in his vast Nginyo Investments portfolio.
In golf circles, he was held in high regard as one of the pioneers of African golf in the post-colonial years.
He is credited with setting up the first golf club that catered to indigenous Kenyans, Ndumberi Golf Club.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga is among leaders who had visited an ailing Kariuki at his Redhill home in Limuru, Kiambu County over the past few years.
Odinga described Karuki as a great crusader of democracy and a friend of his late father, founding Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
“Nginyo is an old friend. He was a friend of the late Jaramogi, and has been a fighter for the betterment of this country’s democracy,” the opposition chief stated on November 22, 2018.
Senate Minority leader James Orengo, during the same visit, disclosed that multi-party campaigners used to hold private meetings at Kariuki's home to deliberate on various matters.
“He has been part of us and we felt it important to accompany our leader to visit him and wish him well and to recover quickly,” he stated.
Nginyo had called for Kenyans to embrace unity, urging leaders to come together to help the country achieve its development goals.
