Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru's widow Catherine (R) at the Lee Funeral Home, Nairobi, on Tuesday. The late governor was laid to rest on Saturday. [Photo/Star]
Emotions ran high on Saturday morning in Nyeri County, when the late Governor Wahome Gakuru was laid to rest in his Kirichu home.
During the burial that was attended by many leaders including President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, Wahome was eulogized as the ‘governor that the Nyeri people never had’.
Many said he was taken too soon, with his untimely death coming 60 days into his first term in office on a chilly Tuesday morning, last week.
“The strength that we see today the fortitude is because we are anchored in the rock, and that rock is Christ,” said the widow of the late governor.
To the people of Nyeri, I’ve heard many of you say that your dreams are going to the grave with Doctor Wahome, I want to correct that, your dreams are not going to the grave, God gave you the governor to give you the GPS, he has charted the path for you and he has left you to navigate the path,” she added.
Many locals in the central region county lined up to pay their last respects, for a leader they said they trusted will change their fortunes.
His deputy governor, who took his seat early this week promised to ensure Wahome’s legacy lives on by ensuring he will push for what the late governor stood for.
“As I took the oath of office recently, albeit reluctantly, I promised that I will dedicate my leadership in implementing the vision that we shared with Dr. Wahome Gakuru, and I cannot do it alone, I need you support,” he said.