A commentary of the final moments of Kenya's founding president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta by Lee Njiru -Daniel Arap Moi's press secretary- has sparked an uproar over Njiru's intention.
In his autobiography titled Presidents' Press Man, Njiru claimed that Mzee Kenyatta's handlers pushed him to attend a political function at the expense of his health concerns.
Njiru detailed that on the final 24 hours prior to Mzee Kenyatta's demise on August 22, 1978, he had trouble walking up the stairs to his sleeping quarters-which raised concerns.
"On August 21, 1978, Mzee Kenyatta had lunch with all Kenyan envoys abroad at State House, Mombasa. It was after lunch that things became terrifying."
"Mzee missed his way out of the dining hall and entered the caretaker's office. He caused a commotion among the junior staff as the room was littered with dirty utensils. When Kenyatta was redirected to his sleeping quarters, he could not make it upstairs without a pause."
"After witnessing the agony suffered by Mzee Kenyatta, I was convinced that Peter Mbiyu Koinange or former Provincial Commissioner Eliud Mahihu or Alexander Njoroge Gitau, the Comptroller of State House, would cancel the pre-arranged Msambweni function but they did not. I believe that Kenyatta's life would have been saved if immediate medical attention was made available," Njiru claimed.
The former press secretary pointed out that Kenyatta attended the function despite his health concerns. He later headed to a makeshift washroom at the back of the VIP dias after he fell ill. Njiru accused the late Mahihu of not heeding Kenyatta's signs but instead requesting him to have a clarion call of Harambee at the function.
"I thought it was callous of Mahihu to subject Mzee to this ordeal. But it was the loudest roar I heard from Kenyatta during the period I worked for him. Unfortunately, it was the last," Njiru noted.
However, the commentary rubbed Mahihu's daughter, Lucy Wambui Yinda the wrong way, who issued a press statement, terming Njiru's remarks as insensitive.
"It is the kind of narrative that should usually call for further reflection before publishing, on account of its character as an unprovoked assault on departed persons who cannot defend themselves. However, it has not only been published but has been serialised," she stated.
She noted that the family was perturbed by the remarks that her father had a hand in Kenyatta's demise. She noted that Njiru's comments were callous as her late father, Mahihu, was not alive to tell his side of the story.
