Thuo: A leader who never walked alone

Former Juja MP George Thuo (right) with President Uhuru Kenyatta (the then Deputy Prime Minister) during his days as Government Chief Whip.  [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By FRANCIS NGIGE

Former Juja legislator George Thuo was an ardent lover of Formula 1, the world-famous auto racing sport. He died while watching the sport.

Those who knew him well say that Thuo would only miss a circuit of the sport in exceptional circumstances – family or business engagement.

And although he took pleasure watching the sport from the comfort of his couch at home in Thika, he often preferred watching it in the company of fellow enthusiasts at a public place or a private members club.

Rarely would you find Thuo, described by his peers as a forthright down to earth man, alone. Most of the time he would be hanging out with a crowd.

Apart from Formula 1, the former Government Chief Whip, who was buried at his home on Friday, was a great fan of Safari Rally and would attend races in any part of the country.

Recounting his last moments, close friends told The Standard on Sunday that Thuo had family engagements throughout the weekend before he decided to wind up with the Formula 1 race at Porkies Club, a popular joint in Thika Town.

Chat with friends

Paul Wainaina, the club proprietor and one of his closest friends, said Thuo called him at around 5pm on Sunday asking him about the Formula 1 race. He wanted to know when it would start.

Wainaina said he was not at the club when Thuo called but was to join him together with other friends later at 7 pm.

“I joined them at their table where they were chatting and watching the race. He appeared jovial and nothing appeared wrong with him,” said Wainaina.

He added: “After a short while, Thuo started complaining that he was feeling extremely hot and wanted to remove his vest. I allowed him to use my office to change. About 15 minutes later, he returned but soon collapsed on the table.”

Wainaina said that together with his friends, they assisted him to the car and took him to Thika Nursing Home. “The doctors administered first aid and referred him to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” Wainaina recalled the painful moments.

He eulogised him: “Thuo was a kind hearted man who would never like to hurt anyone. He was very outgoing. I am extremely saddened by his death since he was a very close friend.”

According to Mr Chris Kobia, the Managing Director of Staple Gun Limited, who once worked with the former MP at Kenya Bus Service Ltd and also interacted with him having been from Thika, the departed politician had an enviable personality.

“He interacted with anyone regardless of their social status. When I worked with him, he was a very intelligent person and also a team leader.”

In his short but eventful political career, Thuo could be described as a victim of tenacity – he never quit anything he started and was ready to tackle any situation.

Ruiru MP Esther Gathogo had very kind words for Thuo saying when she last spoke to him he was as jovial “as usual”.

“George was a very good friend; he is the one who introduced me to politics when he helped me secure a nominated councillor position. He was my mentor and I usually looked up to him for guidance through his exemplary leadership skills,” said Gathogo.

Despite being a greenhorn, Thuo cut his political teeth in an adventurous way plunging into the political scene against moneyed man William Kabogo who was the outgoing Juja MP.

For the five years Kabogo was in Parliament (2002-2007), he had managed to spread tentacles across the vast constituency and anyone keen to dislodge him should have been prepared for an epic battle.

He folded his sleeves and threw his hat into the ring ready to battle the flamboyant Kabogo and when the results were out, just like the proverbial David versus Goliath, he had triumphed.

Thuo had beaten Kabogo hands down in the 2007 garnering 52,321 votes against the now Kiambu governor’s 32,987. But in April 2010, he lost the parliamentary seat after a court nullified the 2007 election results of Juja constituency citing irregularities.

A by-election was subsequently held on September 20, 2010, where Thuo emerged third after Kabogo (Narc-Kenya) and Alice Wambui of Kenya National Congress.

As President Kibaki was trying to weather the storm over his controversial re-election, he entrusted Thuo with the all-crucial Chief Whip role in Parliament for the Party of National Unity (PNU).

In the aftermath of the post-election violence, Thuo was among Central Kenya legislators who mobilised resources to assist thousands of people who had been uprooted from their homes in the Rift Valley Province.

He donated some of the Citi Hopa buses to ferry the victims of the violence from the hotspots to safety. Thuo was also involved in mobilising assistance for the victims, some of whom had camped in Nakuru, Naivasha and Limuru.

It was rumoured that Thuo was listed as one of the defence witnesses for President Uhuru Kenyatta at the ICC trial scheduled to kick off in February next year.

Thuo, who died aged 46, is survived by a widow Judy Wamaitha Thuo and three children; Gichuhi, Njeri and Cirro.