Isaac Kitungi Nguuti

EULOGY

The late Isaac Kitungi Nguuti was born around 1909 in the present day Waita area. His earliest recollections are of the 1st world war as a small boy who helped carry ammunition and food to the battle front.

After the war he left his home village and went ahead to seek employment in Riuru as a shamba boy later on working at Murera farm to harvest sisal.

He worked in Makuyu, Pundamilia and Ithanga picking coffee and cutting sisal. He learnt of his father’s death Nguuti and returned to his home village which by now had resettled near Mwingi town.

He joined present day public works after the death of his father and was posted to Garissa and Bartale to hunt buffaloes while clearing forests.

He later went to kitui in October of 1940 where he was trained to drive a car and where he earned his driver’s licence.

In 1941 he was posted to Turkana/Marsabit as a driver where he was joined by his long time friend Mwangangi Kalingwa.

Same year 1941 he saw the death of his mother; he went back to Mwingi to bury her, by now the family had settled in the present Kiia area.

In the years that followed, he was part of the army troops sent to Asmara present day Ethiopia to fight the Italians in the battle of Adowa. He was part of a platoon that comprised 20 members and he was a driver.

In 1942 after celebrating Christmas he refused to go to Egypt but proceeded to fight in Moshi. In March of 1942 he married his wife Esther Kayinzii the late. After marriage he goes to Somalia to fight in the war and retires from the army in 1946.

In 1949 they are blessed with their first child Mary.

In 1954 he buys his present piece of land in Tivui village for 800 ksh. After which he retires and stays at home because he contracted TB and had to undergo an operation to save his lungs at present day Kenyatta hospital.

1955 saw him marry his second wife Naomi.

1966 after his health had stabilised sees him re-join the ministry of public works as a driver to take care of his family.

1970 sees him go to Kiambere to look for manual jobs during the construction of the 7 folks dams by the Yugoslavians.

1971 he gets his last job as a personal driver in Spring Valley in Nairobi.

He retires in October of 1973 and goes back home to take care of his children who by then were doing their studies.

He has been resident of Tivui village where he was a respected member of the community and was widely consulted on matters of development.

His first wife Esther passed away in February of 2000 after a long illness. He was an avid farmer and was very keen on matters concerning education of all his children and grandchildren. He would always check up whenever he could.

He has been blessed with good health until recently where he had problems with his heart and water in the lungs.

He was admitted at Mwingi level 5 hospital on 17th sept 2018 with body swelling. He was transferred to ST. Francis hospital on 19th sept and while undergoing treatment he passed on to the Lord on 22nd sept 2018.

He was a committed member of the Wikitoo GFBC church where he attended church when he could. He was also a founding member of the church.