At times, life can take a completely unexpected turn in its sunset as former powerful Nakuru Town, Kimunya Kamwana, can attest.
In a candid sitdown with The Standard's Sunday, July 19, edition, Kimunya, 92, opened up on his inability to provide himself with food, treatment and other basic needs despite having served in powerful positions previously.
During the era of founding President Jomo Kenyatta, Kamwana was bestowed with the powerful role of determining where people would own parcels of land and as he put it, he was not interested in grabbing some for himself.
He also revealed that he gifted the late President Daniel Moi a house when he was elected vice president.
"When Daniel Moi was appointed the vice president, I gifted him a house in the Moi Flats Estate. I never abused my office to benefit myself. There were many opportunities to amass wealth but I never thought of it," stated the former mayor.
His life, however, turned for the worst after he joined politics in 1980s and rubbed Mzee Moi, who had risen to become president, the wrong way. Kamwana was tortured for his association with the Mwakenya movement between 1988 and 1994.
"When I was freed, I vied to be a coucillor for Ward 2, currently Biashara Ward, which hosts Nakuru's business center and headquarters," he added.
When he retired, however, he saw a sharp contrast between his life and those of his peers who he claimed are living comfortably from their loot while he lived in squalor conditions.
He accrued a lot of debt while struggling to provide for his family that at some point, he had to sell his posh house in the luxurious Section 58 estate in the same county.
He moved into a one bedroom rental owned by the County Government of Nakuru where he pays a monthly rent of Ksh2,400.
His new house was too small to accommodate his family properly that he had to construct an extension with timber which serves as his children's room.
"Here I am at times with no food for my wife and three young children. I am not the rich man people expect me to be based on my past.
"Every time I heard a vehicle stop at my gate, I thought auctioneers were coming for me. To live in peace, I sold the home and paid debts. The house I am living in now belongs to the county government for which I pay Ksh2,400 rent monthly," he added.
His situation worsened in 2014 when he was bit by a poisonous spider and had to look for money to seek treatment but says the state turned his back on him.
Covid-19 has also hit his family hard and was among the people who had lined up to benefit from the state's donations but left empty-handed.
In 2012, however, Kamwana was among beneficiaries of a Ksh34.5 million award to 11 former political detainees as compensation for torture.
In the ruling, the former mayor was entitled to a Ksh3 million. Other beneficiaries at the time included former MP Kimani wa Nyoike (Sh2.6 million), lawyer Gacheche wa Miano (Ksh5.5 million) and Charles Kuria wa Wamwere (Ksh1.5 million).
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