Three villages in Nyeri mourn young men Killed in Mandera

Grief engulfed several villages in Chaka, Nyeri County, after it was reported that some of the 36 quarry workers killed by Al Shabaab in Mandera were from the area.

Families and neighbours of victims from Gitei, Ndiriti and Kiganjo in Kieni East Sub-County were Tuesday trying to come to terms with the deaths of their loved ones.

What started as a search for fortune for the young quarry workers from Chaka ended tragically when they were killed in cold blood by the terrorists.

Some of the victims were shot in the head. Others were beheaded.

Four different families said they learnt about the attacks through the media. They then made calls to their loved ones to establish whether they were safe.

“I got the information around 6am. I heard the news on the radio that 36 Kenyans had been massacred by suspected Al-Shabaab in a Mandera quarry,” said Ms Jane Wangui Mweru, aunt of 33-year-old Ronny Mweru Wangui, one of the victims.

Ronny travelled to Mandera last month to look for greener pastures after he failed to secure a job in his home area.

HANDSOME PAY

“He went to Mandera after he was told by a friend who was working at a quarry there that the job paid handsomely,” said Ms Wangui.

She said Ronny had also seen how the financial fortunes of some of those who worked in the quarry business had improved.

In a homestead at Gitei village, the family of Bernard Wachogo, 33, was mourning the death of their third born child.

Bernard’s father, Mr Stephen Gichuhi, said that from the word go, he had opposed his son’s decision to move to Mandera.

“I did not want him to go to Mandera, but he insisted, arguing that there were many jobs with attractive remuneration,” he said. “I tried to discourage him from going to that part of the country due to frequent insecurity that had been reported, but he didn’t listen to me.”

Bernard had been working for two years.

Mr Gichuhi said he was worried about his other son, 34-year-old Peter Karimi, who also worked in the quarry but had survived the attack.

He urged the government to guarantee the security of those who survived.

In another homestead in Gitei, the family of 24-year-old Peter Nyaga was also in mourning.

His mother, Ms Katerina Kang’ania, said she feared the worst because she was yet to confirm whether her son was alive or dead.

“I have tried to call my son through his mobile phone but I cannot reach him,” she said sitting pensively.

She said her son went to Mandera last month and was working at the quarry that was attacked on Monday night.

And at Ndiriti sub-location in Naro Moru Aguthi, the families of 40-year-old Jackson Muchiri Matu and his cousin Simon Njaramba Kihia were also mourning after learning of their deaths.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Jackson’s mother, Ms Elizabeth Kagure Matu, said her first born son went to Mandera last month, after his cousin Simon — who was also killed — told him that there were many jobs there.

“They all have families who were looking up to them for upkeep, and wherever a job opportunity arose, none of them allowed that chance to pass him,” said Ms Matu.

She said her son and his colleagues went to Mandera to seek jobs to support their young families.

Mr Francis Gitonga, 28, a father of two, said he lost three cousins and more than 10 close friends.