Popular media personality Njogu wa Njoroge was the first person to break the news of the death of legendary benga musician John De'Mathew to President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday.
Speaking during his Rikiratha show, on Kameme TV on Friday, Njogu recounted how he received a phone call from his friend, John Mugo, who arrived at the scene of the accident near Blue Post Hotel in Thika immediately after it occurred.
"I remember I was in Nakuru that night and I received a call from a friend who knew about my friendship with De'Mathew and was at the scene of the accident," he recounted, adding that Mugo informed him the artist had a broken leg before hanging up the call.
Njogu then called his friend and prominent Murang’a businessman Maina Baba, and informed him that their buddy had been involved in a road accident and asked him to rush to the Thika Nursing Home to check on him.
After a couple of minutes, Maina called and delivered the sad news. De'Methew, whose real name was John Mwangi Ng'ang'a, was dead.
The first person Njogu decided to inform was President Uhuru Kenyatta, the veteran musician's long-time friend.
"I was shocked but when I mustered enough courage and composure, the first person I called was the President. It was late at night some minutes past 11pm," he said.
Njogu said Uhuru picked the phone immediately and he could not believe what he was hearing.
"That is when I learnt how the President held De'Mathew close to his heart. He flew into a rage and asked in Gikuyu what are you talking about? Do you understand what you are saying? (Ati kii? Niuramenya uria uraga wee?)," he narrated.
Uhuru then informed Njogu he was going to call his close ally David Murathe so he can join De'Methew's family to get more information and pass his condolences.