Mutula: I am going to ‘paradise’

By Daniel Nzia

Machakos, Kenya: Mutula Kilonzo Junior Wednesday recounted last moments with his departed father.

“I am going to the paradise (meaning Kwa Kyelu ranch) home at Maanzoni,” were the last words the late Mutula Kilonzo told his son on Friday morning as he prepared to drive off from the law firm, Kilonzo and Co Advocates, in Nairobi.

He said they met briefly at the car park and also met with one of their longest serving employees Mzee Zephania.

“Zephania, I haven’t seen you for a long time. Noukuaa? (Don’t you grow old)?” Mutula teased the old man before he walked to his car.

Little did Mutula Junior know that was the last moment he would see his father alive.

He said his father arrived at the law firm at about 8am and went straight to his Mwaki Foundation office.

After he took a cup of tea Mutula Junior said the two had a meeting that lasted about half an hour.

“In our meeting we discussed the election petition filled by his competitor Haron Mwau and other family matters,” he said.

Invested heavily

In an interview with The Standard on telephone, the second born son of the late Makueni Senator said his father was to sign his response documents to the petition on Monday.

“Dad was happy and in good mood throughout our meeting that lasted half an hour or so,” he added.

Mutula Junior said his father would be laid to rest at his Kwa Kyelu Farm, which he cherished.

“He really invested heavily in the ranch. He was most comfortable there because that is where he used to spend most of his time,” he added.

He denied claims of dispute over the burial site and said the family was in agreement the late Senator be laid to rest at this ranch.

“It is ridiculous for one to suggest we (family) are in dispute on this matter,” he told The Standard.

Meanwhile, a brother-in-law to the late Mutula, Mr Lee Musau said he was deeply shocked by his sudden death.

He recounted how he received the sad news while at the home of former spy boss William Kivuvani where he was to meet with the deceased on Saturday.

“We had met the previous Saturday during the burial of my uncle the late Kiamba Mwania and travelled with him to Machakos where he dropped me with the promise we meet on Saturday,” said Musau.

He said Mutula had told him he wanted to develop a commercial plot in Machakos town and asked him to look for potential buyers for his properties elsewhere.

“The deceased told me he did not want to take a bank loan to develop the plot but wanted to dispose of some properties to fund the project,” Musau said in Machakos.

Wednesday, Mutula’s widow Mrs Nduku Kilonzo and her four sons travelled to the Maanzani ranch in Machakos County for funeral arrangements.