The wife to suspected DusitD2 terror attack mastermind Ali Gichunge, Mrs Violet Kemunto, at one time stated that she was never interested in having a boyfriend or a family of his own, a relative has told the Standard
With the events of last Tuesday's attack that left 21 people dead yet to fully unfold, details of Kemunto's complicated background have emerged, suggesting that she had a troubled upbringing precipitated by their parents separation.
Her mother Margaret, a relative said, separated from Kemunto's fathZablon Kirioba over his drinking habit before she married a Muslim man who has since died. Mr Kirioba, who used to drive tourist vans, died in 2015 when Kemunto was Completing her undergraduate from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
According to the relative, Kemunto has said she doubted whether she would ever have children as she “would be running a lot of activities that would restrict her from having a family”.
Kemunto was a keen observer of her faith and would tell relatives that “there are a lot of gains in being a Muslim”.
The relative said that although laid back and an introvert, Kemunto loved the finer things of life and wanted to own a big house and luxury cars.
“She loved nice things and wanted glamour but was an introvert depending on the environment she was in,” said the relative.
The relative said that it was difficult to know that Kemunto was involved in terrorism-related activities.
“When her pictures started circulating, we couldn’t imagine it was her. And as we watched, the news we were shocked,” said the relative.
Three of her sisters and a brother live in the US with the mother said to be living in Ruai. Since 2015 when they last visited home, none of them have ever returned back.
For Kemunto, she's said to have been operating three mobile phone numbers and several Facebook accounts. Even though she had ruled out marriage, she married Gichunge officially in 2018.