David Wambugu, the bodyguard who was with the late President Mwai Kibaki when his Range Rover overshot the Mombasa Highway and crashed into a ditch at Chumvi on the busy road on December 3, 2002, has recalled how he was fired from the service after that incident.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, April 27 after viewing Kibaki's body at Parliament buildings, Wambugu disclosed that he was dismissed from the service after some of his bosses discovered that he had made a local arrangement with the former Head of State to foot part of his medical bills.
Wambugu who was 32 years old when he was let-go recalled that he was dismissed from service on allegations that he broke protocol to have direct communication with the President.
"My bosses sabotage me, I had written a letter to Kibaki to help me foot some of my medical bills since I suffered serious injuries from that accident. What pains me the most is how some people felt bad that the president was footing my bills," Wambugu explained.
The once strong but now frail officer, detailed that Kibaki continued footing his hospitals bills for about two years after he clinched his presidency before their communication was discovered.
Wambugu who hails from Othaya stated that he sustained serious injuries since he was not wearing a belt explaining that training at that time required bodyguards to remain alert. The seat belt according to the former bodyguard would have delayed his response.
Twenty years after the accident, Wambugu revealed that he is still struggling to get proper medication despite writing a number of letters to various institutions seeking justice.
"I have spent a lot of money from one hospital to the next and even sold my property to feed my family and survive," Wambugu emotionally stated.
Wambugu further disclosed that two decades later, nothing has been moved and he is now appealing to President Uhuru Kenyatta for intervention.
"I have used millions in hospitals and my children are stuck at home without proper education. My case now rests with President Uhuru Kenyatta. I do not need sympathy, just justice to be served," Wambugu appealed.
In 2016, Wambugu moved to the Employment and Labour Court where he sued the government, Attorney General and National Police Service in a matter which is still pending in court.
In his petition, Wambugu revealed that the last hospital bill paid was Ksh62,000 to a Nairobi hospital, in 2004 while the last bill that he submitted to State House was for Ksh116,720.
The former bodyguard joined General Service Unit (GSU) in 1992. He was picked during the 1997 general election to offer protection to Kibaki.
