Worker recalls last moments with Mutula

Keli Mulei, a farmhand, has seen relatives and friends die, but the death of his boss devastated him.

Mr Mulei is still in shock because he saw Mutula Kilonzo, the Makueni Senator, alive and well on Friday afternoon, but little did he know that it was the last he would see him alive.

“Mheshimiwa (for that was their favourite name for the deceased) arrived at his KwaKyelu ranch at around 2pm on Friday,” recalled Mr Mulei

His arrival was not a surprise to the worker because since he started working at the ranch, it had become routine for the politician to visit the ranch on Fridays and spend the weekend undisturbed.

“My boss was a man who believed in himself, when he visited the ranch, his main purpose was to relax in a serene environment away from the hustle and bustle of his official and private engagements back in Nairobi,” said the worker noting that on most occasions the Senator would be alone.

“The 1,500 acre property is a beauty to behold. Mr Kilonzo would take his time to go round the ranch marvelling at the flora and fauna that complete the picture of the estate,” said Mr Mulei.

Interestingly, the farmhand’s father has cooked for Mr Mutula over the years.

Mr Mulei’s father prepared the politician’s last meal which they shared before he went to bed.

When he arrived on Friday, he said, Mr Kilonzo parked his white Range Rover next to the main house.

“He came out and started inspecting the flower bed and the lawn. He called me and asked why the flower garden looked unattended to. He gave an idea of how he would like the compound and the garden to look like,” recalled the worker.

Later on, Mr Kilonzo went into the house.

“I did not see him again until when the ranch was in mourning as news of his death broke.”

Mr Mulei said his fellow workers have lost a friend, a mentor and a man who would forget his social standing and come to their level just to understand them.

“We will miss his good deeds, they were many. God rest his soul in peace,” he said tears rolling down his cheeks.

Meanwhile, friends and relatives of the late Senator Kilonzo continued to stream to his homes in Maanzoni, Mbooni and Gigiri to condole his family.

• EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story got the time and the late Kilonzo's arrival at the ranch wrong. This has now been corrected.