God our light, hope, and strength: Last words of church elder who collapsed on the pulpit

Elder Kenneth Kung'u moments before he collapsed and died while giving a speech. Kenyans were left in shock after a video surfaced of a man collapsing while giving a sermon on the pulpit. In the video, three men are seen rushing to the aid of the preacher. That man was Elder Kenneth Kung'u Wainaina of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), who fainted and died later in the hospital where he had been rushed. "I am not feeling well," were the last words of the retired civil engineer before he collapsed and was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital in Ruiru on May 19, 2024. The 67-year-old Kung'u was preaching to the worshippers of PCEA Ruiru Toll Church during the inaugural service of their new Toll parish. Before he collapsed, he was recounting the church's journey from its inception in 2005, just a month shy of their 19th anniversary. Eng Kung'u spoke of the strategic plan they developed with the slogan, "God our light, our hope, and our strength," asking the congregation to repeat it after him, which they did. In a video shared online, Kung'u reminded them of the vision they had many years ago of becoming preferred Christians. Before he could finish, he paused and said: "It's like I am not feeling well." Seconds later, he collapsed on the pulpit. Elders quickly supported him and took him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. The video of his collapse went viral, revealing the selfless man who dedicated his profession to offering engineering solutions to the church and society. Ten days later, on May 28, his family, relatives, church members, and friends gathered at Ndabibi village in Bahati constituency, Nakuru County, to honor a man with a towering legacy. They came together to give a befitting send-off to someone who dedicated his life to serving both God and humanity. Kung'u was born in Limuru, Kiambu County, on April 15, 1957, to the late Paul Wainaina Ng'ang'a and Tabitha Wanjiru Wainaina. As the second-born, he was charged with grazing the family livestock from a very tender age, a duty that made him a great herdsman among his peers. He later enrolled in Ndabibi Primary, where he studied until 1972 when he completed his CPE examinations. After exemplary performance, he was admitted to Thomson Falls High School, now known as Ndururumo High School, where he sat for his O-level exams in 1976. Thereafter, he joined Mombasa Polytechnic (now Technical University of Mombasa) and achieved both ordinary and higher national diplomas in Building & Civil Engineering in 1979 and 1984, respectively. He was married to Lucy Wangui, and together they were blessed with three children, namely Paul Wainaina Kung'u, Tabitha Wanjiru Kung'u Mwangi, and Esther Waigumo Kung'u Njuguna. Mourners led by his wife of 33 years described Elder Kung'u as a person who left an indelible mark. In his final moments, he was where he wanted to be, fulfilling his divine calling with the same enthusiasm and dedication that defined his entire life. In a tribute read on her behalf by a friend, his wife reminisced about their first meeting at a bus stop. "He offered me a ride, but I declined. The third time at the same bus stop, I accepted the ride, and my prayer to marry a man with a nice car was fulfilled," Wangui recalled. "My love, you were a man of integrity. You always fulfilled the promises you made. You once promised me a honeymoon; though it took some time, you surprised me with a trip to the USA," Wangui shared. She described him as a man who loved his children and made every effort to ensure they received the best education. Wangui remembered the numerous road trips they took together as a gift after he retired from New KCC, where he served as the Senior Building Engineer/Clerk of Works for 14 years. "I promise to carry on our mission, support our children and grandchildren, and uphold everything you value. I will miss our children calling you daddy and our grandchildren calling you guka (grandfather). Rest in peace, my friend and my love," she said. His son-in-law Martin Njuguna and his wife, Esther, could not hide their grief as they remembered their dad's unwavering support, especially during their marriage. "Dad was a peacemaker, firm in his decisions, and always ready to help others. His commitment to assisting those in need was a hallmark of his character. His love for our family was remarkable. He prayed for us tirelessly and made us feel his support during challenging times," recalled Martin. Paul shared his fond memories with his father, recalling how his dad was an avid newspaper reader who never missed a daily edition, except the Sunday newspaper, which ironically on the fateful day, remained in his car. "Our family gatherings will never be the same without you," eulogized Paul, adding: "I will always remember your prowess in making nyama choma. I'll miss your random counsel, our road trips, and those late-night emails and texts when we worked together." Antony Wainaina, who worked with the late elder at New KCC since 1991, described him as a man of integrity who ensured he was never compromised in his project oversight. According to Wainaina, engineer KK, as they called him, dedicated his professional life to the building and construction sector with unwavering passion, and his expertise benefited government departments, institutions, corporations, and individuals. His notable career began with the Ministry of Roads and Public Works in Machakos, where he served from August 1977 to March 1986. He then joined Kenya Cooperative Creameries as a Building Superintendent from April 1986 to November 2000. Kung'u later became the Senior Building Engineer/Clerk of Works at New KCC, a position he held from July 2003 until his retirement in May 2017. The PCEA Toll church, where the late elder gave his last sermon, attributed much of their success to his leadership as chairman and patron of various groups as well as lead engineer during the construction of their church. "Elder Kung'u has always demonstrated unwavering dedication and a servant's heart," said Mugambu Ndung'u, PCEA Toll Parish session Clerk. Ndung'u told mourners that Kung'u's generosity, professional and leadership contributions helped the church grow. "He has not only given his expertise but also contributed monetarily and materially to the betterment of our church," he said. He combined his eldership and profession to offer engineering solutions to the church and society. He was instrumental in various projects, including the five-story, 22-apartment Shiloh Apartment, handed over to the presbytery in April 2024. The elders of PCEA Toll Kirk Session recalled his tenure as a church elder from 2007 until his death, noting his calm demeanor and ability to instill a voice of reason in church leadership. Friends and church members who could not attend the funeral physically sent heartfelt condolences online, sharing cherished memories of 'Baba Paul'. "Thank you, Lord, for the time you gave Baba Kung'u to us. May his soul rest in eternal peace. To the family, peace and comfort. Thanks for giving me the chance to serve your children's wedding at PCEA Ruiru Toll church," wrote Daniel Githua, who followed the funeral service on YouTube. In his sermon derived from the book of Acts 20:32-38 before the interment, Rev Harrison Wachira, Moderator of Ruiru Presbytery, reminded the mourners of Paul's teachings to the people of Ephesus. He emphasized that as Paul was about to leave Ephesus, he reassured the flock that they would not be defenseless because God would still be with them.

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