The GSU officer killed in Dusit attack

On Tuesday afternoon, Japhet Ndunguja, a General Service Unit officer had his last conversation with his elder sister Helen Jumapili.

He told her that he will visit her on Wednesday because he will be off duty.

The visit never came to be. The 26-year-old officer was shot to death by terrorists in the DusitD2 Hotel attack.

On Thursday, a sombre mood engulfed Kimala village in Taita Taveta County as his family and friends mourned him.

Ms Jumapili said her family received the news of his death on Wednesday evening after the government announced that the siege at the hotel was over.

On Wednesday morning, she said she tried reaching her brother on phone, but it was switched off.

“I thought he was resting since he had a long night. My parents, however, kept on calling me to know whether he was okay. We confirmed in the evening that he died in the fight,” she said.

Ms Jumapili said death has robbed her family a hardworking brother who had ambitious plans for the  future.

Ndunguja was planning to start constructing a house in Kimala next month.

“The materials are already on the site,” Ms Jumapili said.

Burial preparations are underway at their Kimala home.

Taveta MP Naomi Shaban said it was sad for such a young man with a promising future to die.

She celebrated him saying he put the country first before his own life in a bid to save others. “This is very sad news to us,” she said.