Family, friends and politicians have eulogised the late KBC journalist Betty Barasa as a loving, caring and hardworking person.
At a requiem held at Montezuma Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 14, Barasa’s husband, Geoffery Barasa, remembered her as a supportive and caring person who was his pillar.
“We were married for 17 years. We met in April 2004 and married in April 2014 and the killers took her life in April. The month of April means a lot to me. As a couple, if we had an issue we discussed. There are many things we were planning to do,” Barasa said.
Speaking during the service Bungoma Senator, Moses Wetangula, disclosed that he did not know that the slain journalist was a family member until a person called to condole with him.
“I received three calls from Edwin and thought that he was calling to condole me about my mother who had passed away. When I got back to Nairobi I called back and he told me that Betty, Geoffrey's wife is the one who had been shot,” Wetangula said.
Wetangula went on to add that in 2004 he helped Betty secure an internship program at KBC where she, later on, got employed.
“In 2004 I had employed the late Namachanja to work with IGAD as a rapporteur. One day he came to my office with Geoffery and a young girl. They told me that the girl was a mass communication student and that she was looking for an internship.
“I called the Managing Director at KBC and he told me she could join the company. I am happy to hear that she was a good employee at the company,” Wetangula said.
Kabuchai Member of Parliament, Majimbo Kalasinga, urged the authorities to ensure that those responsible for the death of Betty should be apprehended.
Speaking during the mass, Geoffery’s brother and Maranda High School principal, Edwin Namachanja disclosed that he was uncomfortable on the day Betty was killed.
“That very moment the thugs got into the house something in me told me to call and check on my brother. The phone rang for a little while and then he picked. I heard some commotion in the background and then he said “huyu ndio amenipea ruhusa. He told me he would call so I hang up the phone and waited for the return call,” Namachanja said.
He went on to reveal that he got a return call from Geoffery’s daughter crying and screaming. He told her to hand over the phone to her father who told him that his wife had been killed.
“I want to thank God for giving us a good sister-in-law in the family. She had that magnetic touch of friendship. She knew how to build good links and bridges with all the people she got in touch with. We thank God that she came and has been with us for this time,” Namachanja said.
Betty was shot dead by thugs at her home on Wednesday, April 7. She will be laid to rest at her home in Ngong.
