Former street urchin Patrick Hinga passes on

Sue Watiri

March 17, 2019 10:54 PM

He had been helped into rehab by a former classmate.

Wanja and Patrick before and after rehab

Patrick Hinga a former street urchin who rose to fame after his former classmate helped him into rehab has passed on.

Patrick with his classmate Wanja after rehab (Courtesy) Pulse Live Kenya

The tragic news was broken by the heroic classmate Wanja Mwaura aka Faith Nga'ng'a in a post that read "With deep sorrow I want to inform you that Hinga has rested. He passed on this morning. I don't have the strength to say much right now. R.I.P my friend."

Wanja announces friend's death Pulse Live Kenya

His passing comes months after Wanja reported that he had relapsed and was spotted at Wangige Market in Kabete. She asked well-wishers not to judge him but pray for him as he battled addiction.

“It’s not an easy fight. Thank you for all your support and let’s not judge him harshly for his relapse. Drug addiction is a disease and relapse is a part of the process. Let’s pray for him. We did our part as the society," Mwaura’s Facebook post read.

Before his relapse, Hinga had been taken to Chiromo Lane Medical Centre for detoxification before going into a rehabilitation center for months. He left the center in May 2018 but relapsed in August 2018.

Sue Watiri