Police arrest athlete Wanjiru's mother
Olympic champion Samuel Wanjiru's mother Hannah Wanjiru (right) is escorted by a police officer after she was arrested when she interrupted a grave marking ceremony at Gatimu location in Oljoroorok, Nyahururu where the burial will take place June 4, 2011. JOSEPH KURIA
Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru's mother Hannah Wanjiru was arrested Saturday after she dramatically interrupted a grave marking ceremony.
A relative to Wanjiru’s wife Terezah Njeri Mr Paul Wanjohi was rushed to Nyahururu district hospital after he was hit on the back of the head with a piece of wood.
A groundbreaking ceremony by the athlete’s grandfather Samuel Kamau Njoroge, 80, in readiness for the burial suddenly changed when Ms Wanjiru, armed with a machete, arrived and started hurling abuse to those present.
“Who is that trying to bury my son before those who killed him are arrested”, she shouted as she entered the compound.
She also broke into intermittent screaming. The screams attracted a large number of onlookers from the residential-cum-farming
neighbourhood.
When her expletives failed to move the gathering, Ms Wanjiru turned to the media who were recording the happenings and started throwing stones at them.
As she left the compound with the press in her wake, she whipped out the machete from a large bag she was carrying.
Drama unfolded as she threatened anybody who tried to restrain her as many scampered for safety.
At one point, a fight broke out between two sides of the in-laws and it was during the fight that Mr Wanjohi was hit by a lady combatant.
The incident shocked Wanjiru’s grandfather and also Njeri’s father James Muturi Githinji and other relatives who were present.
Ms Njeri was whisked to safety by being assisted to leave the compound though the rear fence by a relative.
A contingent of police led by the Nyandarua deputy OCPD Jacob Kanake arrived and took Ms Wanjiru and those who had accompanied her to Ol Joroorok police station.
The grandfather, who on Friday evening gave the go ahead to the burial committee to make arrangements to inter Wanjiru had visited the two acre farm to identify the gravesite.
