By Standard Team

Mourners turned up in their numbers for the burial of police officers Nancy Gituanja and Thomas Murimi in Murang’a and Migori counties.

The two were among four officers killed in the crash that claimed the lives of Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and his deputy Orwa Ojode. The other two are Captain Luke Oyugi, the co-pilot, and Inspector Joshua Tonkei, Prof Saitoti’s bodyguard.

Leaders attending the burial of Captain Gituanja, the pilot of the ill-fated flight, said Kenyans should not be stopped from commenting on the helicopter crash.

The leaders said Kenyans were anxious to know the cause of the accident and they should not be gagged.

Speaking during the well-attended burial at Kiiri village in Kandara, Murang’a County, the leaders among them Juja MP William Kabogo, said speculation would end once the cause of the accident was known.

“There were two pilots in that chopper when it crashed and it could not be bad weather. That should be ruled out,” said Kabogo.

Also calling for speedy investigations were Murang’a County MPs led by Assistant Minister Peter Kenneth.

Cabinet ministers Jamleck Kamau and Esther Murugi, MPs Elias Mbau, Maina Kamau, Clement Wambugu and Muturi Mwangi and Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere also attended the burial.

The leaders said previous reports on plane crashes have never been made public despite assurances given.

Kenneth asked Iteere to ensure speedy investigations. He described the late police pilots as qualified officers who were always ready to serve the country with dedication.

“Nancy had served the country well as she was also involved in community projects in her Kandara District,” said Kenneth.

Kamau, who read President Kibaki’s message of condolence to the family, assured the public that the Government was concerned over the crash and called on leaders to wait for the appointed commission to complete its work.

“The Government is most touched and the President himself wants to know what caused the crash in Ngong Forest,” said the minister.

Emotional ceremony

At the same time, thousands of mourners turned up in Nyankore village of Kuria Constituency, Migori County for the burial service of Sergeant Murimi.

The mourners, among them Roads Assistant Minister Wilfred Machage who is also the area MP, his counterparts John Pesa (Migori) and Martin Ogindo (Rangwe) eulogised Murimi as a hardworking and honest person in an emotional ceremony at his late father’s farm.

Speaking at the ceremony, Murimi’s widow Leah Nchagua moved the mourners to tears as she narrated how her husband had wanted to go to church on that day but was unable to do so because he had to be on duty.

“He left telling me to just proceed to church as he would have to travel,” a tearful Nchagua said, adding that their last communication was when Murimi called to tell her that he had got onto the plane and that they were just about to leave.

The officer’s first-born son, Nicholas Chacha, who is a Form One student at Kakamega High School, described his father as a “very religious” person, adding that his father always urged them to ensure that they put God before everything.

Iteere described the late officer as a honest and hardworking person, who served as a role model to other officers whom he worked with.

In a speech read on his behalf by General Service Unit Commandant William Achweji, Iteere urged the family to stay united and said he had them in prayers at this time when they needed support to be able to overcome the grief.

Speculation

Achweji at the same time asked Kenyans to remain patient and avoid speculation as the Government tries to get to the root of the cause of the accident.

“Let the team that has been tasked with the investigation do its work,” he said, adding that the officer, whom he said he had known personally during his time at the GSU Training School, was disciplined and honest. These qualities, he said, had made him to be one of the four chosen among the over 400 officers to undergo further training at the school upon completion of their normal training.

Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Internal Security Mutea Iringo, in a speech read on his behalf by the Migori County Commissioner Anne Ngetich, said the Government had pledged to support the family.

Ogindo and Pesa, both members of the committee that organised the funerals for the six, said all Kenyans should preach peace especially as the country heads to the General Election.

— Story by Wainaina Ndung’u, Boniface Gikandi and Nick Oluoch