He Saved Me From Lucy Kibaki: Dennis Onsarigo Mourns Former Assistant Inspector General Of Police
King'ori at the time was the Nairobi Provincial Police Officer when the former First Lady stormed NMG offices in May 2005
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Former KTN journalist Dennis Onsarigo on Sunday, February 11 mourned the death of former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zachary King’ori Mwangi while recounting how his timely alert spared him from the wrath of the late Mama Lucy Muthoni Kibaki who infamously raided Nation Media Group (NMG) headquarters in Nairobi.
King'ori at the time was the Nairobi Provincial Police Officer when the former First Lady stormed NMG offices in May 2005, protesting what she deemed was negative media coverage, particularly a story of how she interrupted a party at the home of outgoing World Bank country director Makhtar Diop.
Onsarigo in his message on X revealed that the late King'ori had alerted him of Mama Lucy's tensed visit, to which the former chief of staff in Nyamira County had to devise tricks to spare her from falling victim to her wrath targeted at every journalist present within the offices at the time.
A photo of the late former Assistant Inspector General, King'ori Mwangi. /FILE
"King’Ori was a brilliant police officer and friend. His last tip was to inform me that First Lady Lucy Kibaki had arrived at Nation Center.
"For four hours, dressed as a cleaner and with a camera hidden inside a carton, I filmed the First Lady lecture editors, demand the arrest of others on the second of NMG," he wrote in part.
At the time, the late Mama Lucy also demanded the arrest of the reporter and editor who filed the story of her morning visit to Muthaiga Police station where she reportedly recorded a statement.
She confiscated notebooks, pens, cameras and tape recorders from journalists who were following her protests as her security detail kept watch for any eventuality.
"Every day, you write lies about me. I will come to the newsrooms and you will see my true colours. I am annoyed beyond control. I am demanding the truth and exercising my right," she said during the night protest at the Nation, before slapping a journalist who was taking pictures.
Onsarigo further mourned the late King'ori as one who took the secrets of brazen bank robberies in Nairobi with him.
The former police chief who was receiving treatment at a Nairobi hospital passed away on Sunday after his condition deteriorated.
According to reports from his family, the former police chief had undergone surgery, however, his health worsened prior to his eventual death.
In a text message sent by his family confirming the death, his family noted that they would later update the public on burial plans.
“We wish to inform the public of the death of Mr Kingori Mwangi, a retired police officer. Kingori passed on this morning at a Nairobi hospital where he was receiving treatment. The family will update the public on the burial plans".
King’ori served as the Assistant Inspector General of Police, until 2018 when Japheth Koome replaced him.
He later moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was attached until his retirement after leaving the Assistant Inspector General position.
King’ori also served as the director of operations at police headquarters, police spokesman, director of Kenya Police Campus in Kiganjo and principal assistant.
