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Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) party leader Rigathi Gachagua is in mourning following the death of his beloved aunt Gladys Gathoni Kahua.
Following the death of Gachagua’s biological mother in 2019, Gladys stepped up for the former Deputy President, taking the role of a mother, a mentor, a prayer warrior and a friend.
Acknowledging the toll that her demise has taken on him, Gachagua shared that he is at his lowest since losing his mum in 2019.
Emotions and tears flow
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Gachagua recounted being called at 3am with the news that her only surviving maternal aunt was unwell and he needed to see her urgently.
Rigathi Gachagua with Aunt Gladys Gathoni Kahua who passed on today, June 28, 2025
Today, I am at my lowest since I lost my mother in 2019. I was called at 3.00 a.m. last night and informed that my only surviving Aunt Gladys Gathoni Kahua had been taken ill, and I needed to see her urgently
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I did guide that she be taken to Jamii Hospital in Karatina Town and purposed to see her at 4pm today. At 9.00 a.m., I did a follow-up with the hospital, and she was stable.
Doctors called him requesting him to hurry as Gladys had indicated that her time on earth was running out and Gachagua promptly headed for Karatina.
Arriving 5 minutes after death struck
He was however held up in traffic and lost 30 minutes which saw him make it to the hospital five minutes after his aunt’s death.
I left for Karatina at 2.00pm, and unfortunately, I fell into a huge traffic jam near Ruiru and lost almost 30 minutes.
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I was called by the Doctors and requested that I hurry up since she indicated that her time on earth was running out. I struggled and arrived at the hospital at 4.10pm only to be told I was 5 minutes late; my aunt left us at 4.05pm.
Rigathi Gachagua with Aunt Gladys Gathoni Kahua who passed on today, June 28, 2025
Priceless memories
The deceased was a pillar in Gachagua’s life, with the former DP sharing that she was the only surviving Aunt on his mother's side, and since the demise of my mum, she has been my mother, my mentor, my cheerleader, and a prayer worrier so loving.
Rigathi Gachagua with Aunt Gladys Gathoni Kahua who passed on today, June 28, 2025
Aunt Gathoni was my only surviving Aunt of my mother's side, and since the demise of my mum, she has been my mother, my mentor, my cheerleader, and a prayer worrier so loving…I have no one to turn to in this grief and pain. I have lost a mentor and a counsellor. I feel hollow, down, and abandoned.
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He also shared cherished memories made with his aunt including her wise counsel, language lessons, folk tales and stories of maumau.
We would laugh and laugh to her folktales, Mau Mau songs, unending stories of Mau Mau struggle and forest experiences where she and my late mother were in the cause while fighting the colonialists. She used to teach me kimeru language and always told me I was 'Kiana Kia Mwari' (son of a daughter) and that I needed to re-unite with our Meru family.
We loved each other. We were close. She called me the apple of her eye and her favourite son. We spent quality time together, and her wise counsel anchors me on.
Plans are underway for her burial, with the DCP leader promising to give her a befitting send-off.