Nominated Meru MCA Petronilla Gainchi Dies

Nominated Meru MCA Petronilla Gainchi Kiao died on Friday, February 14.

Gainchi is reported to have died after a short illness at MP Shah Hospital, Nairobi County.

Meru County Speaker Joseph Kaberia Arimba confirmed her death as well as condoled with the family.

"It is with a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing on of our colleague Hon. Petronilla Gainchi Kiao while receiving treatment at MP Shah Hospital Nairobi. On my behalf and that of the entire County Assembly of Meru fraternity, I do convey our condolences to the family, friends and relatives.

"We pray that the Almighty God grants the family strength, requisite fortitude and understanding to enable them withstand the monumental loss. May her soul rest in eternal peace," Kaberia wrote on his Facebook page.

Kaberia will be remembered for championing for the compensation of Reuben Mburugu, a former county government enforcement officer in revenue department Ksh 192, 301 on permanent injuries he sustained while on duty in March 2017.

She moved the motion in Meru County Assembly. The MCAs adopted a report by Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare which made the recommendation.

“ Mr Mburugu had filled the work injury benefit forms as required by law, in fact, it has been received by the insurer but the compensation had dragged for long,’’ said Ms Kiao on behalf of committee chairperson Isaiah Kanyaru.

Gainchi's death came days after Kahawa Wendani MCA Cyrus Omondi died in a hotel in India, after allegedly suffering a heart attack.

Omondi was serving as a first time MCA in Kahawa Wendani following the 2017 elections.

He ran for the MCA seat in 2013 on an ODM ticket but failed. In 2017, however, Omondi tried out again in a Jubilee ticket and clinched the position.

The story of the ascend of the former mechanic into Kiambu County politics has inspired many in the area given his humble beginnings in the dusty streets of Kahawa area.