You discussed Jomo Kenyatta’s health at your own peril

Uhuru Kenyatta, now the President of Kenya, eulogises his father in August 1978. [File, Standard]

As Kenyans mark the 40th anniversary of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s death today, few know how he died.

In September 2008, Lee Njiru, the former Jomo Kenyatta Presidential press unit information officer issued an earth shaker of a statement.
Njiru, later President Daniel arap Moi’s press secretary for more than three decades, claimed that President Jomo Kenyatta would have lived longer were it not for negligence and corruption by his aides. 
According to Njiru, the founding father of the nation didn’t get the best of medical attention in spite of his advanced age and failing health.
The statement had it that Mzee had reached a stage where he could not remember simple things and was unable to sign documents.
Njiru would recall the old man fainted at his toilet in Msambweni on August 21, 1978.
Kenyans were told the president had “died peacefully in his sleep” but here was an insider talking of ailing and negligence.