‘The truth will someday come out,’ Ken Walibora’s family says on author’s third death anniversary

The family of celebrated Swahili author, linguist and journalist, the late Ken Walibora, has penned a moving tribute in commemoration of his third death anniversary.

Walibora was reported missing on Friday, April 10, 2020, when he is alleged to have been knocked down by a matatu while crossing Landhies Road in Nairobi’s Central Business District.

The 56-year-old’s body would later be found at the Kenyatta National Hospital mortuary on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

In a tribute published Monday in the Daily Nation newspaper, Walibora’s family said they are still waiting for justice to prevail as they cherish the memories of a man they described as humble.

“Another year has slid by in the dazzle, bustle [sic] of living and dying. Ken’s memory soldiers on. Someday, someone will demystify his inexplicably agonizing demise. But today we remember our Mjomba, a father and husband, a loyal friend. We remember his humility, his unique blend of wit, charm, and indomitable faith,” reads the tribute.

“Though rich memories are not substituted enough, for the boom of his infectious laughter, or the wealth of his tale. They are all we have. Till the dawn of Siku Njema.”

Suspicious death

The puzzle of Walibora’s death became even more complicated after post-mortem results showed Walibora had a deep cut between his thumb and index finger which was not caused by the motor vehicle accident.

He had also lost two of his teeth and had a blood clot in his head, the report by the government pathologist, Dr Johansen Odour, showed.

“He had a cracked jaw on his right side, his right hand was broken and also he had a clot on his right side of the head, and he had lost two teeth all these are common with motor vehicle accidents,” Dr Oduor said.

Odour said the injury on the author’s right arm needed further investigation by the State.

“He had a wound cut caused by a sharp knife on the space between his thumb and the index finger which is not familiar with motor vehicle accidents,” the government pathologist said.

The events surrounding Walibora’s death took place at around 9:30 a.m. when an ambulance was called but failed to take him to the hospital upon arrival.

A Nairobi County government ambulance later rushed him to Kenyatta National Hospital.

He is said to have remained at the hospital’s emergency area without being attended to from 10:30 a.m., throughout the day up to around midnight when he passed away.

His vehicle was found along Kijabe Street, about 30 minutes away from Landhies Road.

Celebrated author

Walibora, who is popularly known for his debut novel Siku Njema, was until January 2017 the Kiswahili quality manager at the Nation Media Group.

He had 40 book titles to his name and his popular works include Ndoto ya Amerika (2003), Kisasi Hapana (2009), and Nasikia Sauti ya Mama (2015); all of which won the Jomo Kenyatta Literary Prize.

He is also known for the Kidagaa Kimemwozea novel which was used as a set text in Kenyan high schools for several years.

Waibora’s family on Saturday held a memorial service at his rural home in Bonde, Trans Nzoia County.