Veronica Wambui Nduthu: Why did they kill my son?

By Lillian Aluanga

If there is one question Veronica Wambui Nduthu has been seeking answers to for over 15 years, it’s why and who killed her son Karimi Nduthu.

Karimi was the pride of his family, having earned good grades in high school and emerging one of the best candidates in national examinations.

"He wanted to study engineering at the University of Nairobi and we encouraged him to follow his dream," says Nduthu.

But it was his entry to the University of Nairobi that would forever change his life and that of his family. At the time Karimi’s family was living in Molo where his father headed a school and his mother, a farmer and businesswoman sold fruit and vegetables at the market. Life was peaceful until the family got into trouble with the law.

Veronica Wambui Nduthu

While at the University, Karimi was actively involved in student politics, earning the wrath of the administration and attracting the attention of the police.

A meeting by students held to demand the release of political detainees signalled the start of trouble.

"We heard that Karimi and other student leaders had been expelled from the university. The police sent a message asking that Karimi’s father goes to pick his son at the university," says Nduthu.

Nduthu, 71, talks of terror filled nights when security agents descended on the home searching for Karimi.

"They would come at odd hours sometimes at midnight, 2am, 4 am and begin questioning us. They arrested Karimi’s father and I, as well as my two sons, Maathai and Mathenge. We were taken to police stations in Elburgon, Njoro and Menengai," she says.

For months, the family knew nothing of Karimi’s whereabouts but the police would hear none of it.

Earlier during the 1986 Mwakenya crackdown Karimi had been arrested. When he was eventually jailed, Nduthu was crushed.

Nduthu eventually heard about the planned protest by mothers of political prisoners, but then another problem arose.

Several parts of the country had been hit by tribal clashes. Molo was among those areas hugely affected and Nduthu was torn between leaving her family of 14 and joining the women at Freedom Corner.

"One of my sons in Nairobi wrote me a letter saying I had to go to Freedom Corner because it was important," she says.

About 10 days later Nduthu set off for the capital to represent her ‘two’ sons Karimi and his friend Tirop Kitur. But even as she left for Nairobi her home was not spared by arsonists who razed it to the ground.

"Tirop’s mother was far and couldn’t afford the fare to Nairobi. But our sons were friends and therefore Tirop was also my son," she adds.

Days at Freedom corner were mostly spent in prayer, reading of scripture, especially Psalms 25, and talking about the political prisoners.

Nduthu talks of her first meeting with Prof Wangari Maathai as she walked into the All Saints Cathedral Church.

"I saw this woman in a kitenge seated on a mattress, writing. I went up to her and asked to talk to Wangari Maathai. She smiled and said she was the one, and I couldn’t believe it. Here was a well-educated woman mixing with women, some who were barely literate, yet was comfortable in their midst," says Nduthu.

She talks of days spent at Freedom Corner and All Saints Cathedral and the lifelong friendships made. "Many people brought us food. Politicians like James Orengo came to spend time with us and assure us we were not alone," says Nduthu.

Her joy at Karimi’s release was however shortlived when he was killed under unclear circumstances in 1996 aged 35.

"I was walking home when I met a young man who told me Karimi was dead. I had a newspaper which had the story but hadn’t even read it," she says.

She then changes the subject as tears begin to well up in her eyes and begins to animatedly chat about a plaque that should be made for all those who have made significant contributions to the country.

"Its okay to erect a statue in honour of Maathai but we should also consider having one central place where names of all our country’s heroes and heroines are printed, for easier access by future generations," she says.

But Nduthu is wary of forces bent on disrupting the Constitution’s implementation.

"People shed their blood so that one day we may enjoy the rights now promised under the Constitution. This would be in vain if we fail to follow through with the new laws," she says.