Nairobi News

NewsWhat's Hot

Tears as Magu’s family finally laid to rest

By ERIC WAINAINA December 9th, 2014 2 min read

The bodies of lawyer Paul Magu, his wife Lydia Wangui, and their three children were on Tuesday buried in one grave.

Emotions ran high at Kimuchu Village in Juja, Kiambu County, with mourners discussing the deaths that wiped out the family.

Relatives broke down and wept uncontrollably during the burial service of Mr Magu, 35, his wife Wangui, 35, and children Allen Muhiu, 9, Ryan Ndau, 8, and Tiffany Wambui, 5.

In his moving sermon, archdeacon James Kamura of the Anglican Church of Kenya, Thika, implored the government to punish the killers of the children and their mother.

Volunteers lower coffins of Paul Magu, his wife Lydia and their three children Allen, Ryan and Tiffany at Kimuchu village , Wateithie in  Juja, PHOTO | ERIC WAINAINA
Volunteers lower coffins of Paul Magu, his wife Lydia and their three children Allen, Ryan and Tiffany at Kimuchu village , Wateithie in Juja, PHOTO | ERIC WAINAINA

“This is a very painful thing for the wider family to bear. It is hard to understand what really happened as all of them are dead. The blood of a human being shall not be spilt like that of an animal,” archdeacon Kamura said.

MUTILATED BODY

Mr Magu was knocked down by a bus on the Garissa-Thika Road while the mutilated body of his wife was found at Paradise Lost Resort, off Kiambu Road.

The children’s bodies were found a few days later in a thicket at Tatu City in Ruiru.

Allen’s and Ryan’s bodies were decomposed and had been partially eaten by animals.

The bodies were brought to the burial site in three hearses and later carried by pall-bearers to the single cemented grave.

They were laid to rest in a row. A number of mourners collapsed and were carried away.

“There is no way these killings could have been done by one person. There are people who are alive who participated in this heinous crime and the government must take action,” the archdeacon said during the service at the home of Mr Magu’s parents near Thika Town.

LINK TO MURDERS

Pastor Ann Wanyoro, who police said was a close friend of the Magus, is in custody. Police said preliminary investigations directly linked her to the murders.

They said there was a likelihood of Ms Wanyoro, who they have associated with a cult, being prosecuted after investigations.

A huge crowd witnessed the service and burial. Present was Juja MP Francis Munyua. Kiambu Governor William Kabogo was represented by aide Sammy Onyango.

The preacher occasionally interrupted the sermon and appealed to the ushers to support relatives overcome by grief.

Mary Muthoni, the mother to Lydia Wangui, during the funeral. PHOTO | ERIC WAINAINA
Mary Muthoni, the mother to Lydia Wangui, during the funeral. PHOTO | ERIC WAINAINA

Mrs Magu’s parents, Mr Francis Ndau and Ms Mary Muthoni and close relatives from Nyandarua County were unable to stand up during the service due to grief.

WENT MISSING

It was the first time that Lydia’s parents — from Geta Village in Kipipiri — appeared in public since the tragedy.

Lydia, who went missing on November 23, was the last born in the family of nine.

She worked for two years for Kenya Shell after her graduation at Kenyatta University in 2002 before going into the real estate business.

It was while at Kenya Shell she met Mr Magu. They married at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in South B, Nairobi, in January 2005.