Matthew Kimani Gathigira, veteran revise editor, dies after suffering stroke

It is with humble acceptance of God’s will that we announce the death of Matthew Kimani Gathigira which occurred on Wednesday 3^rd July 2018.

Matthew was the son of the late Henry Stanley Gathigira and the late Mary Muthoni Gathigira.

Brother of David Kiama Gathigira, Caroline Wanjira Rimui, the late James Kimondo Gathigira and the late John Mutua Gathigira.

Brother-in-law of Muthoni Kiama, the late Dennis Waweru Rimui and the late Anne Rosha.

He was a cousin and uncle of many.

Family and friends are meeting at Norwich Union Building from Friday 6^th July 2018 for funeral arrangments from 5pm – 7.15pm and on Monday 9th July 2018 from 5pm-7.15pm.

Funeral arrangements and details of Mathew’s final journey will be communicated later.

Funeral contributions can be sent to 0715 335001 – Caroline Rimui.

REST IN PEACE AND ETERNAL HAPPINESS TILL WE MEET AGAIN

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The Kenyan media has lost one of its most respected and experienced editors.

Mathew Gathigira, who died on Tuesday night, was the revise editor at the Star.

A refined editor with a taste for the fine things of life, Matt worked in nearly all of Kenya’s media houses in a career spanning four decades.

He was also renowned for reviewing hundreds of manuscripts for book publishers.

Matt, as he was popularly known, suffered a stroke while at home in April. He was treated at Guru Nanak Hospital and discharged to continue with physiotherapy at home before his sudden death.

Also see: The last press run for editor Mbogo Murage

Star Editor David Makali eulogised him as an icon and mentor to many journalists, saying he will be sorely missed.

Matt honed his skills from his father, Henry Gathigira, one-time editor of the Standard and a pioneer of post-independent Kenyan journalism, alongside Hilary Ng’weno, Peter Githii and George Mbugus.

Educated in England, Matt’s command of the English language was impeccable. He was among the cream of journalists groomed by the Weekly Review in the 1980s under the tutelage of Ng’weno.

They included Sarah Elderkin (managing editor), Kwendo Opanga, Wachira Waruru, Vitalis Musebe, Macharia Gaitho, Muiru Ngugi, Gitau Warigi, Jaindi Kisero, Okumba Miruka, Mike Ngwala and Lucy Oriang’.

Ngugi, who now teaches journalism at the University of Nairobi, remembered Matt as secretive, well-connected and extremely knowledgeable.

“If there is anyone who knew Nicholas Biwott well, it was Mathew.”

Royal Media Services chief executive and former Standard Group managing editor Wachira Waruru described him as a brilliant editor.

“The profession has lost a great mind,” he said.

Standard Group editorial director Joe Odindo said Matt had a brilliant command of the English language and a sharp sense of Kenya’s history.

“He could be extremely irritating but you could not hold a grudge against Matt for long. We will miss him.”

Radio Africa Group’s director of convergence William Pike described Matt as “an extraordinary human being with an encyclopaedic knowledge of Kenyan political history.

“His passing is a great loss to the Star but also to all his friends who will greatly miss his humour, warmth and intellectual curiosity,” he said.

– The Star