Mzee Jomo Kenyatta once owned a pet that was chauffeured in a Mercedes and had its own driver, privileges that left many working at State House in wonder.

Unknown to many, the former president was not fond of keeping animals as pets. However, when his close friend, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie gifted him a white dog, he adopted an entirely different attitude.

According to biographer Jeremy Murray- Brown in his 1972 book, Kenyatta was initially angered by the gift adding that he would have preferred a cow.

Lee Njiru, who worked as Information Officer at State House, would later reveal that the president ordered a brand new luxury Mercedes Benz 280S to chauffer the dog whom he named Addis.

“Mzee had few bosom friends. One of them was the animal-loving Emperor Haile Selassie. The friendship was so deep that when he was gifted the white little dog during his visit to Ethiopia, he bought it a Mercedes Benz 280S.

“Addis had his own driver and normally sat back left whenever he accompanied Mzee during his long working tours around the country,” Njiru stated in an interview.

The president treasured the dog as it was a symbol of his friendship with the Emperor.

Their friendship spanned long before the two became Heads of State. While studying in London’s Quaker College in 1931, Kenyatta kept a red, green and gold Ethiopian flag in his room in England.

It is reported that Kenyatta was so fascinated with His Imperial Majesty and 33 years after his stay at 75 Castle Road in England, he ensured the Emperor was Kenya’s first foreign dignitary invited during the Jamhuri Day celebrations in June, 1964.

Additionally, during his 14-year rule, Kenyatta -who hated flying – made only one foreign trip and it was to Ethiopia in 1969.

When he arrived, Ethiopia’s military performed a special aerial drill in Kenyatta’s honour by spelling his name, Jomo, in the sky.

Police officers in Kisii county have arrested a man suspected to have murdered his wife on Sunday night following a domestic wrangle.

According to reports from the police, Mr Peter Aching’a, 29, is said to have beaten up his wife, Ms Nancy Kemunto, to death at their home in Bosingi village, Nyamache sub-county.

Ms Kemunto was heard screaming for help in the middle of the night.

DISTRESS CALL

One of the neigbours, Mr George Ombaba, said he responded to the woman’s distress call immediately only to find that other neighbours had already arrived at the scene and gotten hold of the suspect.

Kisii county police commander, Mr Martin Kibet, said the body of the victim had injuries on the face, legs and hands. He also said the victim’s bed sheets were soaked in blood.

The body of the deceased was moved to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem while the suspect is in police custody.

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Kirinyaga County women representative, Purity Wangui Kuria-Ngirici, is mourning the death of her nephew, who was among the victims of a horrific accident which claimed several lives during a street racing event on Sunday evening.

Immediately after the incident, atleast eight people were reported dead and several other injured in the accident which happened at Oldonyosambu area on the Arusha-Namanga road in Tanzania.

On Monday, Ngirici took to Facebook to eulogize her departed nephew.

The young man name Robin, a nephew of Kirinyaga County women representative, Purity Wangui Kuria-Ngirici. He is among the people who died in the street racing car accident along the Arusha-Namanga road. PHOTO | COURTESY

FONDLY MISSED

“The cruel hand of death has snatched my beloved nephew Robin who perished from the Arusha Namanga accident. Robin was a young man of virtue. I recall with nostalgia his passion for everything his mind set to do. He was a sociable bubbly gentleman who like any other young person had great dreams for his future. Rest in eternal peace my dear nephew. You will be fondly missed,” he post read.

Reports indicate that casualties of the accident were both of Kenyan and Tanzanian nationalities.

Photos of the accident shared online showed mangled wreckage of the vehicles and lifeless bodies of some of the victims lying at the scene of the accident.

source:nairobinews