Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has emotionally recounted the final moments of his daughter, Anita Kendi, who died suddenly after falling ill last week.
Speaking about the tragedy, Kiraitu said Anita had spent the day attending a conference of African women researchers at the Windsor Hotel in Nairobi as part of a team from the Kenyan team
According to him, she had been excited about the conference and appeared in good spirits before her health suddenly deteriorated later in the evening.
Kiraitu recalled that Anita returned home complaining of a headache, nausea and vomiting shortly after the conference activities.
Concerned about her condition, he said he immediately instructed his driver to take her to hospital for medical attention and tests.
“At home she told me she was feeling a bit of headache. She said after taking tea she started feeling nausea and vomiting, so I asked my driver to take her to hospital so that doctors could establish what the problem was,” he said.
At the hospital, Anita underwent several tests and was given medication before she returned home later that night.
Kiraitu said she appeared to have improved and even held a brief conversation with family members before retiring to bed shortly before midnight.
“She told us she was feeling better and wanted to sleep because she needed to wake up very early and go back to the conference the following day,” he recounted.
However, the family’s calm night quickly turned tragic in the early hours of the morning.
At around 4am, the house help frantically knocked on Kiraitu’s bedroom door after noticing that Anita was struggling and appeared to be in distress inside her room.
The family rushed to her room before immediately driving her to The Nairobi Hospital for emergency treatment.
Kiraitu said doctors at the casualty department quickly attended to her upon arrival, but moments later, they delivered devastating news to the family.
“The doctor later came back and told me she had no pulse. And so that’s the story. It was that bad,” Kiraitu said emotionally.
President William Ruto led leaders across the political divide in mourning the death of Anita Kendi Murungi.
In a message of condolence, Ruto described the death of Anita as a heartbreaking loss, saying her passing had left an immeasurable void.
“The loss of a child, especially one so young, bright, and full of promise, is a profound tragedy that leaves an immeasurable void," President Ruto said.
“May they find strength in the support of family, friends, and all those mourning with them,” he added.
