Thika MP mourns Matiba.

Thika MP Patrick Wainaina chatting with the Late Kenneth Matiba at the icon's home in Diani Mombasa sometimes last year when the MP made him a courtesy call.

Thika Town MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina has sent a message of condolences to the family and friends of the late veteran politician and multiparty crusader Kenneth Stanley Njindo Matiba following his death early Sunday night at Karen Hospital Nairobi.

In his message, Wainaina described Matiba as a true hero and a fighter whose contribution led to the political freedom we now enjoy as a nation.

Here is Wainaina's message of condolences......

Kenneth Matiba is a truly Kenyan Hero! We celebrate his greatness as a fighter for Kenya multiparty democracy.

For the short time I got to spend with him last year, I got to know a warm, focused and a man of passion for his country.

I take this opportunity to send my condolences to the family, friends and Kenyans at large for the deep loss.

May God help Kenya achieve the dream and vision which was engraved in this man's heart.
Peace, Love and Unity

He deserves a state funeral!

#RIPMatiba

Hon. Eng. Wainaina wa Jungle - Thika Town MP.

Matiba died at the age of 85 years while undergoing treatment at the Karen Hospital ICU in Nairobi after suffering from cardiac arrest. He was hospitalized for 55 days and on a ventilator for the past two weeks.

His internal organs started failing on Friday and his blood pressure was too low for a dialysis.

He will be remembered for his role in the struggle for multi-party democracy in Kenya.

Being the first Cabinet minister to ever resign in Kenya, Mr Kenneth Stanley Njindo Matiba became the symbol of defiance of Kanu’s brutal years and for the last 26 years, he carried the weight of that brutality in person.

The Daniel Moi regime not only wrecked his health, but his business empire, and by the time he died on Sunday, aged 86, he had disappeared from the limelight having lost to auctioneers all the hotels and schools he had built in his youth.

Mr Matiba not only lost his Alliance Hotels but also the prestigious Hillcrest Group of Schools – all worth billions of shillings.

Last year, the High Court ordered that Mr Matiba be paid Sh945 million compensation for damages and violations he suffered and for expenses incurred for his medication.

Born in June 1932 in Kahuhia, Murang’a, Mr Matiba was daring in all things that he did.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was among leaders who went to the Karen Hospital immediately after receiving news of Matiba’s death.