Ruto Speaks On Lawyer Paul Gicheru's Death

President William Ruto on Thursday, October 6 spoke for the first time regarding the death of the International Criminal Court (ICC) suspect, lawyer Paul Gicheru as he was laid to rest in Nakuru.

Ruto eulogised the late lawyer as a legal practitioner who championed justice across the country as well as leading the charge in different reforms.

"We have lost an indebted lawyer who made a contribution to people's progression. Paul Gicheru Njoroge was a fine legal mind and a master of equal justice," Ruto said in a speech that was read out by Simon Gicharu, the founder of Mt Kenya University.

The message was delivered by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominated MP, Joseph Wainaina, who then invited Gicharu to read it out to the mourners. He had to however send another version of Ruto's eulogy after forgetting the original version in the car.

"Gicheru was a close ally to our President William Ruto. Everything else you have heard is just propaganda," Wainaina stated while calling for family unity.

Wainaina further advised the family against quarrelling over his wealth in court, as well as other issues. 

Gicharu on his part promised to continue supporting Gicheru's children and promised to lobby his friends to complete the projects he had launched, including a library at a local school.

During the burial, the late lawyer's wife, Ruth Nyambura, and her mother-in-law, Josephine Wambui, put aside their differences after they collided in the wake of his death. Wambui had initially dragged Nyambura into the mysterious death of her son, demanding to know her side of the story on the matter.

"We want to unite the two ladies and that is the way we can help them. Gicheru has gone and that is it. From this day, onwards these two are united," Wainaina stated after playing a part in his reconciliation.

Nyambura nonetheless eulogised her husband as loving and kind to his family whom he taught to fear and respect God, parents and government. According to her, Gicheru was a great man who was generous to everyone including neighbours.

Gicheru's family friend and lawyer John Khaminwa claimed that the lawyer was a disturbed man. He however did not disclose what was bothering him.

The lawyer was found dead at his Karen home on Monday, September 26 with foam in his mouth, igniting speculations that he might have been poisoned. An autopsy carried out on him was however inconclusive, forcing the pathologist to take more samples to the government chemist for further analysis.