Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru dies after road crash
Late Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru.
What you need to know:
Murang'a County Commissioner John Elung'ata confirmed the death of Dr Gakuru.
Dr Gakuru becomes the second Nyeri governor to die to in office after Governor Nderitu Gachagua, who died in February this year.
Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru passed on Tuesday morning following a freak road crash at Kabati along the Thika-Sagana highway in Murang’a County.
He was rushed to Thika Level 5 Hospital for emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries on arrival.
BLACK SPOT
He died as medics prepared to airlift him to Nairobi for specialised care.
Murang'a County Commissioner John Elung'ata confirmed the death.
Mr Elung'ata said Kabati is black spot and motorists lose control whenever it rains.
DRIVER
Police said the governor's car had four occupants at the time of the crash— him, his personal assistant Albert Kaguru , his body guard Ahmed Abdi and the driver, Mr Samuel Kinyanjui Wanyaga.
The personal assistant’s right hand and leg are broken and police were still looking for his wrist at the scene of the crash.
The bodyguard's legs were seriously injured while the driver is okay.
Police attributed the crash to a "tyre burst during heavy downpour."
The governor's body was moved to Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi.
GACHAGUA
The governor was heading to the capital for talk shows with a vernacular radio and TV accompanied when his vehicle veered off the road and hit a guard rail.
Photos of the wreckage of the Mercedes Benz at the scene of the crash was doing rounds in social media for the better part of Tuesday morning,
Dr Gakuru becomes the second Nyeri governor to die to in office after Governor Nderitu Gachagua, who died in February this year.
Dr Gakuru’s death came as one of his three sons sat for his Form Four national exams at Alliance Boys High School in Nairobi.
EDUCATION
The governor’s Twitter page shows he hosted the candidate, together with some of his classmates, at his Runda residence on Monday, November 6.
Dr Gakuru holds a doctorate in Public Administration and Policy from Arizona State University, the United States. He graduated in 2004.
In 2001, he graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration from Willamette, the United States.
He holds a similar qualification, MBA, from from the University of Nairobi, where he also studied for his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration between 1988 to 1991.
The consultant and former university lecturer also served as a director of Vision 2030, Equity Bank and National Aids Control Council.
Additional reporting by Stella Cherono.
