By K, KNA
A cloud of grief has hit the State department of Broadcasting and Telecommunication employees following the passing on of a long serving colleague, Ms Lucy Mbuiri Muguku.
The 60-year-old Ms Muguku who joined public Service in 1987 passed on at Kenyatta University Referral hospital where she had been admitted from early December 2025 after falling sick. She has served the Information department for nearly 40 years.
Ms Muguku who will be laid to rest at their home in Kiirungi sub location, Gikondi division, Mukurwe-ini subcounty on Friday, January 29 had suffered ill health for quite sometimes but that did not deter her from discharging her duties very committedly.
She worked at KNA’s Press office at the Directorate of Information located at Uchumi House headquarters in Nairobi County.
Workmates and friends eulogized Lucy as a happy soul saying they would remember her for warm smiles, generosity and team spirit. ‘’ I have lost a very close friend and I am saddened by her demise. Our friendship dates back to October 21st 1987 when we both coincidentally joined the Civil Service,” said Mrs. Jane Wandia Wamuya ,” one of Lucy’s closest friends.
Mrs. Wamuya added: “Having just joined the Ministry of Information and broadcasting, we met on the corridors of Information House where the department headquarters were located.
After greetings, we both asked one another in Kikuyu language Kai uri guku ? ( How comes you are here?).We started conversing in whispers as we thought speaking loudly was illegal and could result in having us sacked,’’ quipped Mrs. Wamuya.
She described Lucy as outgoing, bold, and very generous saying she was always ready to forgive whenever anybody rubbed her the wrong way. Wandiaa’s sentiments were echoed by other colleagues as well as Lucy’s younger brother Mr Ben Kariuki Muguku.
‘’ My sister was a very generous, disciplined and happy person. I cannot remember even one incident of her being beaten by our late parents; Esther Muthoni and James Muguku as she was very obedient. As for me I would sometimes be beaten thoroughly in order to walk the right way,” Mr Kariuki said.
On his part, the Director of information Mr John Kahuthu said the department had lost a dedicated member of staff who worked committedly despite her ill health. “Imagine the day her health worsened, she had reported to work out of her own volition. That day I walked to press office as usual and one look at her convinced me she was unwell. I asked her to go and seek treatment and was admitted,’’ said Mr Kahuthu as he condoled with the family.
Others officers who condoled with the family includes Information Secretary Mr Temesi Mkwana, Directors Ms Esther Wanjau and Ms Cyrilla Barasa and Head of Kenya News Agency (KNA) Mr Kizito Maruti.
According to her brother Mr Ben Kariuki, the late Lucy Mbuiri was the 9th born child of the late Mr and Mrs. James Muguku Wachira of Kiirungi sub location, Gikondi, division, Mukurwe-ni Sub County, Nyeri.
She attended Gikondi primary school in the 70s and after sitting her KCPE examination, joined Kanyuambora Girls Secondary school up to form 2. She was then transferred to Tumutumu Girls high school where she sat the then Kenya Certificate of Education (KCE) and passed well.
On religious matters, Mr Kariuki highlighted that his sister was a devout catholic adding she was baptized in 1978 at Gikondi catholic parish. “My sister has been a devout catholic follower. She has never switched to any other church and was even a member of Catholic Women Association (CWA) in Umoja Estate where she has been residing,’’ Mr Kariuki told this writer at their home on Saturday.
The late Lucy Mbuiri Muguku is survived by two children Carol and Esther and five grandchildren.