Kirima children break into his house

By Cyrus Ombati

The saga surrounding the family of former Starehe MP Gerishon Kirima deepened Wednesday, when some of his children broke into his Kitisuru home in Nairobi and took over the property.

The children then brought in a pastor to "cleanse" the compound, saying it was infested with satanic spirits.

By then, Kirima was in hospital and his third wife of 40 years Teresia Wairimu was away.

The children chased away guards, who have been guarding the posh compound and installed theirs, saying they were in charge.

Third wife of former Starehe MP Gerrishon Kirima shows journalists the door that was broken to gain access to rooms in their Kitisuru house in Nairobi, Wednesday. [PHOTO: GOVEDI ASUTSA / STANDARD]

Wairimu arrived minutes later, accompanied by two of her children and a host of hired youths, and drove into the compound without any resistance.

She took journalists round the house, showing them the broken doors, and saying her life was in danger.

Wairimu complained that she had been denied access to her husband at the Nairobi Hospital since Sunday, and wondered why the children took such an action. "I have tried to involve police, but they have refused to help. I fear there is going to be violence in this compound. For now, I am not safe," she said.

As she spoke to journalists, Francis Musili of Around the Globe Church was in deep prayers outside the house with three daughters of Kirima.

Apostle Musili said he had been invited there by the children to help in chasing away bad spirits, which had allegedly been brought there by witchdoctors, a claim Wairimu refuted.

Wairimu said she would move to court to seek protection because police had refused to help her.

Judges in vacation

Said she: "It is because the judges are on vacation that I have been unable to get help from the courts for now. I will definitely go back to the courts if the children insist on staying here."

Kirima’s daughter Bishop Gathoni said they would withdraw court cases now that they had accessed the house. "My dad has been suffering in the hands of bad people, and now that we have him, we intend to withdraw the case pending before court," she said.

But Wairimu said she had a doctor, who checked on her husband for the last 15 years, and that their allegations that he was sick were baseless.

Mr Kirima was whisked from his home to the hospital on Sunday, after the children stormed into the compound with a Government ambulance.

They took him away against Wairimu’s wish. She had been living with Kirima at the Kitisuru house.

The children had been camping at the home, demanding that their father be taken to hospital, as he was ill and needed medical attention. They say their father has diabetes, prostate cancer and poor eyesight.

The family has been embroiled in a tussle over property, which is estimated to be worth more than Sh750 million, with rent collected monthly nearing Sh20 million.

Mr Wanjau Kirima had gone to court asking to be enjoined in the management of the property, saying some third party forces were taking advantage of their father.