A cloud of grief has enveloped staff at the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications following the passing on of a long-serving employee, Ms Lucy Mbuiri Muguku.
The 60-year-old Ms Muguku, who joined public service in 1987, passed on last week at the Kenyatta University Referral Hospital, where she had been admitted from early December 2025. She has served the Information Department for 38-plus years.
Ms Muguku, who will be laid to rest at the family home in Kiirungi sub-location, Gikondi division, Mukurwe-ini sub-county on Friday, January 30, had suffered ill health for quite sometimes. However, 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. Staffmates and friends eulogised 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 the Gikuyu language Kai uri guku? (How come you are here?). We then started conversing in whispers, as we reckoned that speaking loudly was illegal and could result in getting 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. Wandia’s fond 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 get a thorough beating in order to walk the straight path,” Mr Kariuki said.
Director of Information Mr John Kahuthu said the Department had lost a dedicated member of staff who stayed committed to her duties despite her ill health.
“Imagine the day her health took a turn for the worse; she had reported to work out of her own volition. That day I walked to the press office as usual, and one look at her convinced me she was unwell. I asked her to go and seek treatment, and she got admitted,” said Mr Kahuthu as he condoled with the family.
Other officers who condoled with the family included Information Secretary Mr Temesi Mukani, Directors Esther Wanjau and 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 ninth-born child of the late Mr and Mrs. James Muguku Wachira of Kiirungi sub-location, Gikondi division, Mukurwe-ini 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 two. She was then transferred to Tumutumu Girls High School, where she sat the Kenya Certificate of Education (KCE) and passed well.
On matters of faith, Mr Kariuki remarked that Lucy was a devout Catholic, adding that she was baptised in 1978 at Gikondi Catholic Parish.
“My sister has been a devout Catholic follower. She has never switched to any other denomination and was even a registered member of the 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.
By Kamiri Munyaka
