North Rift Kikuyu Council of Elders Chairman Kimani Gatonye is Dead
Kikuyu Council of Elders North Rift chapter chairman, Muthamaki Kimani Gatonye has passed on.
The deceased who was 84 years old died at Eldoret Hospital after a short illness.
Gatonye served as the council chairman for barely three years after taking over from the late Mzee Kamunu wa Kabari following his demise.
Muchiri Ng’ang’a, the council organizing secretary led members of the community in the region in mourning the death of their chairman whom they described as humble and a uniting factor.
Speaking to the media in Eldoret town, Muchiri said that they have lost a visionary and selfless leader who championed the unity of all communities in the region.
“Our chairman was a man of clean heart and championed the unity of all communities living in the North Rift region irrespective of their political or religious affiliations,” mourned Muchiri.
The council members have consequently halted all activities they had lined up related to the peace process until the council’s chairman Kimani Gatoney is buried.
“All activities carried out by the Kikuyu Council including in ‘magongona makurunga micii iitu have been halted until we lay mzee to rest” Noted Muchiri.
The deceased was the father to Beatrice Gatonye, a broadcast journalist at state owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii led political leaders in the region in sending messages of condolences to the family and friends of the late Gatonye.
Bii said they have lost a great peace negotiator who had helped unify various communities living in the region.
“We are saddened by the untimely death of the chairman of Agikuyu Council of elders who worked tirelessly to ensure peace and unity prevail in the cosmopolitan region,” Said Hon Kimani Wanjohi
Similar sentiments have been echoed by nominated mca David Waiganjo.
Mzee Gatonye has been instrumental in helping the Kikuyu community acquire land in Rift valley since 1970’s.
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