Pain, agony as Monica Kimani is finally buried amid calls for justice

A distraught Reverend Paul Kimani and his wife Miriam Wanjiru bury their daughter Monica Nyawira in Gilgil a week after she was found murdered in her in Nairobi. 

Tears flowed freely as Monica Nyawira Kimani, who was brutally murdered last week, was laid to rest in her family's farm in Chemichemi village in Gilgil.

Some relatives collapsed while others wailed uncontrollably as the body was lowered into the grave some minutes before 4pm.

Two weeks ago, 'Monix', as she was popularly known, celebrated her 29th birthday. To the soil, in that white casket, she has gone as her death continues to attract more questions than answers.

Scores of friends braved the scorching sun as speaker after speaker spoke fondly of Monica.

At one time, a group of her friends who had travelled from South Sudan broke down after they were given a chance to eulogise her.

This came as details emerged that Monica once dated Joe Irungu, the man police are treating as the main suspect in her death.

According to a cousin who declined to be named, Monica had even introduced Irungu to some family members a year back.

The relative said that they were left in shock after they learnt through the social media that Irungu alias Jowie had proposed to  Tv presenter Jacque Maribe.

He further added that they had received information that the deceased on arrival from Juba had a lot of cash in terms of dollars which was yet to be accounted for.

“Some of her close friends have conferred with us that Monica had some good money which she intended to use during her tour in Dubai,”

“We suspect that the killers were after this cash, we hope and pray that the real truth shall come out and justice will be done,” he said.

Addressing mourners, a friend from Juba, Alex Mariga, termed Monica as a hard-working Kenyan who was loved by many and was ready to assist.

He called on the mourners to dismiss the unfounded statements and stories in the social media casting Monica in bad light.

“We have come to mourn a friend and a sister and we hope and pray that no person will have to undergo the pain and agony that the family and friends have undergone,” he said.

Monica's Uncle, the Director-General of Energy Regulatory Commission Joe Ng'ang’a, said that their hopes lay in the government machinery to get the killers.

Ng'ang'a told of the family’s pain after learning of the beastly murder terming Monica as a God-fearing child who had a lot of respect for her parents.

“We are crying for justice and we hope that all those responsible will be brought to book and they should be punished as per the law,” he said.

On his part, Reverend Kennedy Mbatia, who led the service, said that there were so many unanswered questions around the gruesome murder.

He said that the family had forgiven the killers but was quick to add that those responsible should be arrested and charged in court as per the law.

“As we seek answers of this death, we want to thank the media for highlighting this case and other evils that are bedeviling the country,” he said.