People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader and veteran advocate Martha Karua [has announced the passing of her beloved father] Mwalimu Jackson Karua, prompting a nationwide wave of condolences across the political spectrum.
In an emotional public statement released on Sunday, September 27, Karua revealed that her father breathed his last shortly after she and her siblings visited him at his family home in Kirinyaga County. During the afternoon visit, the family gathered around his bedside to sing his favorite gospel hymn, unaware it would be their final moment together before Karua received the tragic news on her return journey to Nairobi.
“My father believed in me long before I had achieved anything worth celebrating,” [Karua said in her tribute statement]. “From my school days, through my career in law, and through the many chapters of my public life, he remained one of my strongest supporters, always proud, always encouraging, and always in my corner.”
Karua described her late father as a principled educator and steady patriarch who instilled core values of integrity, character, and discipline throughout her upbringing. Political leaders from across the country expressed their condolences, with President William Ruto acknowledging Mwalimu Karua’s dedicated legacy in education and public service while offering support to the grieving family.
“His passing is a profound loss to all of us, to his children, grandchildren, our wider family, and to the many people whose lives he touched,” [Karua added]. “Huruka thayu, baba. You will be deeply missed, dearly loved, and forever remembered.”
Funeral arrangements and burial details are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
