MONICA NYAKAIRŨ JOHN aka Wangũi

The life story of MONICA NYAKAIRŨ JOHN aka Wangũi

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

My hopes come from him.

He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.

He is my rock, my refuge.

Psalms 62:5-7

The journey of Monica Nyakairũ aka Wangũi in this world of mortals began 88 years ago. She was born in 1930 at Gĩthi location, Kĩharo sub-location in Nyeri District as the last born of the late Ngumĩ Gĩchanga and the late Wanjirũ Marũngo. Her siblings were the late Gĩchanga Ngumĩ, Wambũi wa Rugo and Marũngo wa Ngumĩ, all from Kimondo village

She went to Githũngũri Primary School in 1942 where she sat her Common Entrance Examinations in 1948. She taught briefly at Kĩhũtĩ Intermediate School and later moved to Nanyuki with the love of her life John Wamũtu in 1950. The couple took their marriage vows at Nanyuki Catholic Church in 1952. But their honeymoon was disrupted by John’s arrest and detention for their involvement in the Mau Mau freedom struggle. Monica was briefly detained at Kangũbiri detention camp and were later moved to Kĩangara concentration campm by then referred to as Gĩchagi. During this time, John and his fellow detainees, who the colonialists had vowed would never return to Central Kenya, were detained at Manyani. Later in 1956, she was moved from the concentration camp to Lamu where she reunited with John.

The struggle for their right to return home persisted, culminating in their eventual freedom. They returned to Central Province in 1958. They settled at Mbarĩ ya Mũgo in Mũkũrwe-inĩ, Nyeri District (now County), where they raised their children from farming activities.

In the early 1960s, Monica continued to support her husband in his business ventures such as selling food, running an eatery and logistics. His businesses took him from Karatina to and Uganda. When he returned to Nyeri town, he finally settled at Kĩang’ondu and Thangathi Shopping Centres.

In service to her community, Monica pioneered the establishment of Kĩangondu Primary School, where she also served as a member of the committee board.

On August 18, 2002 Monica and John celebrated the Golden Jubilee of marriage and renewed their vows at a ceremony presided over by the Rev Fr James Ndumiah.

The couple is blessed with 10 children, namely the late Magdalene Wangarĩ, Ann Wanjirũ Kuria, Paul Kĩmarũ, Charles Ngumĩ, Symon Njuĩrĩ, Samuel Gĩchanga, Rachael Wairimũ, Catherine Mũthoni, Stephen Thũmĩ and Rose Wambũi. She was passionate about the well-being of her family and enjoyed sharing quality time with her children, their spouses, friends and her grandchildren.

Monica enjoyed good health until the 1980s when she was diagnosed with arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure. She underwent therapy sessions in Nairobi for some time. She suffered a mild stroke in 2003 and a leg amputation at Kikuyu Hospital in 2012. Nevertheless, she recovered fully and lived at her Mbarĩ ya Mũgo family home.

Early this month, Monica was admitted to Mũkũrwe-inĩ Hospital and later a private nursing home at Kiahũngũ. Her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to Nazareth Hospital in Limuru on July 11, 2018.

Monica’s great message and salutation at Nazareth Hospital was THAYŨ THAYŨ.

She received the sacrament of anointing the sick from her grandson, the Rev Fr John Wamũtu on Sunday, July 15, 2018. Monica passed on the following day, July 16, 2018, at 1.00pm in the presence of by her children Ann Kuria, Patrick Kuria and Symon Njuĩrĩ. She is survived by five sons, four daughters, 24 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

As Monica reunites with her husband, friends and forbears, we, who have survived her, are not mourning her today but are celebrating her warmth, charm, charisma, business acumen, aspirations, achievements, desire for a better society, love and devotion for the service of God and Man. I am sure many among you here have met her at her shop and perhaps experienced her motherly generosity and received a biscuit, sweet or soda as a small token of her appreciation, a gesture that earned her the name Cũcũ wa Theremende.

 

Eternal rest grant unto Monica Nyakairũ, O Lord

And let perpetual light shine upon her.

May her soul and the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace.

Amen.

 

 

Celebration of life

 

Monica Nyakairũ John ‘Wangũi

(1930-July 16, 2018)

 

PROGRAMME

Requiem Mass

Friday July 20, 2018

St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Kĩang’ondu

 

7.00am – Assemble at KU funeral home

8.00am – Leave mortuary for Kĩang’ondu

9.30am – Arrival at Kĩang’ondu Catholic Church

 

10.00am            Speeches (Coordinator – Mahinda Macharia)

1. i) Eulogy – Edwin Wanjohi
2. ii) Family – Kĩmarũ wa Mene

                        iii) Elder  – Kamoni wa Ezekiel

1. iv) Best of friends  – Wanjirũ wa Ndũciĩ
2. v) Kĩang’ondu community –  John Manyatta
3. vi) Provincial administration

                        vii) Mũkũrwe-inĩ MP

                        viii) Tributes

1. ix) Church – CWA and Church leaders

 

11.00 noon          – Requiem mass

1.00pm – Vote of thanks                         – Patrick Kuria

1.30pm – Burial and laying of flowers    – Mahinda Macharia

NIĨ NĨNGWENDA GŨGAKINYA

1 .{Niĩ nĩngwenda gũgakinya}

Niĩ nĩngwenda gũgakinya

Mũciĩ mwega wa ikenero*2

{Mũciĩ ũcio wa ikenero }

Mũciĩ ũcio wa ikenero

Niĩ nĩngwenda gũgakinya kũu Mwathani anjetereire

 

2. {Ciikaro cia Mwathani athire gũtũthondekera}

Ciyũritwo kũna ni ũkengu wa Ngai

Na ma ni ciikaro cia aria atheru.

 

3. {Kũu araika matĩaga na magakumia Ngai}

Nĩ kuo naniĩ ndĩriragĩria gũgakinya

Tũkamũinagĩre hamwe nao.

 

4. {Niĩ ndikwenda gũgaikio nja ya mũciĩ ũcio mũtheru}

Kũrĩa gũgakorwo kĩrĩro ona kĩeha

Ona kũhagarania magego.

 

5. {Kũu gũtarĩ kĩeha na maithori}

Kũu Mwathani anjetereire

{Kũu gũtarĩ ũiru na rũmena }

Kũu Mwathani anjetereire

{Kũu gũtarĩ ũremi na mwĩtĩo}

Kũu Mwathani anjetereire

{Kũu gũtarĩ ũĩci na ũhahami}

Kũu Mwathani anjetereire

 

6. {Mũciĩ ũcio wa ikenero} Mũciĩ ũcio wa ikenero

Niĩ nĩngwenda gũgakinya

Kũu Mwathani anjetereire.

 

7. {Ikenero mũciĩ mwega wa arĩa atheru}

Nĩ kuo ngwenda gũgatũrania na Ngai

Kũu gũtarĩ hĩndĩ gũkagia na nduma

Tũgatũra na ũtheri wa Mwathani.

{Ũthamaki-inĩ wa tene ona tene}

Nĩ kuo ngwenda gũgatũra thamakaga

 

8. {Mũkristo hingia watho wa Ngai]

Nĩguo ũkagaĩrwo muoyo ũtagathira

Enda Mwathani Ngai waku

Na ngoro yaku yothe

Na muoyo waku wothe

Ona gwĩciria gwaku guothe

Na hinya waku wothe

Enda mũndũ wa itũũra ũrĩa wĩyendete we mwene

 

9. {We mũruna wakwa}

Hihi nĩ ũgatigwo tũkĩingĩra mũciĩ wa ikenero?

{Wee tũinaga nawe }       hihi nĩ—

{We mũrũ wa maitũ}       hihi nĩ—

{Wee mwarĩ wa maitũ}   hihi nĩ—

{Wee mũndũwa itũũra }   hihi nĩ—

{Hihi nĩ ũgatigwo, tũkĩingĩra mũciĩ wa ikenero} *2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EHIA MŨTIKOONA MŨTHAMAKI

{Ehia mũtikoona mũthamaki}

Inyuĩ mwĩkaga ciĩko itarĩ njega,

Inyuĩ mũrakaragia Ngai witũ;

Mũico wanyu ũkirie gũũka ndĩmwĩre,

Mũninwo mũthire

{Tarorai ũrĩa ndogo ĩthiaga}

Ĩhurunjũkaga ĩgathiĩ na ndĩcoke,

Ta mũhũra ũkĩringũrwo nĩ mwaki;

Ũguo noguo arĩa aganu mũkaninwo,

Mwarega kwĩrira.

1. Yesu okire nĩ getha atũhonokie,

Akue atũrĩhĩre thiirĩ wa mehia;

Na ĩnyuĩ mwatũũra mwĩ ngombo cia mehia,

Mũkerira kĩĩ?

Mũkerirĩria irĩma imũgũĩre,

Ningĩ mwĩrire mũmerio nĩ maaĩ;

Ona mwetha ahunjia mamũhunjĩrie,

Mũtikamona

1.    Gũka gwa keerĩ gwake mũthamaki,

We ndagooka kũhunjia na kũhonia;

Agooka gũthurania ega na oru, ehia maninwo.

Agooka na mũrurumo mũnene,

Ehumbĩte ũkaru na ũthingu;

Aria ehia mũtikona riri ucio,

Mũkerira kĩĩ?

1. Inyuĩ mwĩtĩkĩtie na ma nĩ arooka

Mũtigathethũke we akirie gũka;

Kirĩrĩriai tũtiũĩ mũthenya, no ithe ũĩ.

Wĩra wanyu niguo ũroka kũrĩhwo,

Minoga yanyu ĩkinye mũthia,

Mũhumbwo thũmbĩ njerũ na ng’emu ma,

Mũhanane nake.

REKEI AKAHURŨKE

Rekei akahurũke tigai kũũrwo nĩ hinya,

Rũrũ nĩ rũgendo tuohete, rekei akahurũke *2

 

1. Athiĩte kwĩ Ngai urĩa wamũũmbire- rekei akahurũke

Nĩguo magatũranie nake-                 rekei akahurũke,

Matu-inĩ kwĩ ime kwega kuuraga-   rekei akahurũke

 

2. Kũu athiĩte nĩ tũkamũkora-

No harĩa atuĩka we ambĩrĩrie-

Ona ithuĩ no rũgendo tuohete-

 

3. Tũtigatetie Ngai mũtũmbi-

Nĩ tũtiganĩre na itua rĩake-

Rĩa kũhurũkia mwendwa ũyũ witu-

 

4. Rekei tũkĩgirie maithori-

Mahoya no mo mabatarainie-

Tondũ ithuothe twĩ rĩũmba rĩake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rũgano rwa Mwendwo nĩ-irĩ Monica Nyakairũ aka Wangũi

 

Wee ngoro yakwa, etha ũhurũko harĩ Ngai o we wiki,

kĩĩrĩgĩrĩro gĩakwa kĩrĩ harĩ we.

O we wiki nĩwe rwaro rwakwa rwa ihiga na ũhonokio wakwa;

nĩwe kĩirigo gĩakwa kĩa hinya ndirĩ hĩndĩ ngenyenyeka.

Ũhonokio wakwa na gĩtĩĩo gĩakwa ciumaga kũrĩ Ngai;

nĩwe rwaro rwakwa rwa ihiga rũrĩ hinya, na rĩũrĩro rĩakwa.

Thaburi 62:5-7

 

Rũgendo rwa Monica Nyakairũ aka Wangũi gũkũ thĩ ĩno rwambĩrĩirie miaka 88 mĩthiru. Aciarirwo 1930 Gĩthi location, Kĩharo sub-location, Nyeri District ee kĩhinga nda kĩa mũtiga-irĩ Ngumĩ Gĩchanga na mwendwo nĩ-irĩ Wanjirũ Marũngo.

Maciaraniirwo na atiga-irĩ Gĩchanga Ngumĩ, Wambũi wa Rugũ, Marũngo wa Ngumĩ othe a itura rĩa Kĩmondo.

Ambĩrĩirie gĩthomo gĩake Gĩthũngũri Primary School mwaka-inĩ wa 1942. Nĩ ekire kĩgeranio kĩa Common Entrance 1948. Nĩathomithirie cukuru wa Kĩhũtĩ Intermediate ihinda inyinyi. Thutha ucio

mwaka wa 1950 agĩthamĩra Nanyuki na mwendwa wake John Wamũtu. Mekire uhiki Kanitha-inĩ Catholic wa Nanyuki mwaka-inĩ wa 1952. Gĩkeno gia kĩhiko kĩao kĩarĩ kĩa ihinda inini tondũ John nĩanyitirwo na agĩthamĩrio Lamu nĩũndũ wa gũkuruhanio na gĩkundi gĩa kũhũranĩra wĩyathi kĩa Mau Mau. Monica o nake nĩanyitirwo na akĩhingĩrwo kambi-inĩ ya ithamĩrio ya Kangũbĩrĩ. Thutha ucio nĩathamĩirio gĩcagi gĩa Kiangara. Hĩndĩ ĩno yothe mwendwa wake John na arĩa manyitĩtwo nao — arĩa mũkoroni ehĩtĩte matigacoka mũciĩ (Central Kenya) — mahingĩrĩtwo Lamu, gĩchũa-inĩ. Mwaka-inĩ wa 1956, Monica nĩathamĩirio Lamu kũrĩa mwendwa wake aarĩ, na makiambiriria rĩngĩ ũtũro hamwe. Nĩmathire na mbere kũrũĩra gũcoka mũciĩ. Kũrĩ mwaka wa 1958, nĩmoohorirwa na makĩheo rũtha rwa kũinũka kwao. Nĩmaakire Mbarĩ ya Mũgo, Mũkũrwe-inĩ, Nyeri District, kũria marereire ciana ciao na ũrĩmi. Monica nĩathire na mbere kũnyita

mũthuriwe mbaru mbiacara-inĩ ciake mĩaka-inĩ ya 1960s. Mbiacara ici marutĩire Karatina na Uganda. Mauma Uganda, marutĩire wira Nyeri town na thutha ucio Kĩang’ondu na Thangathi.

Wĩrutĩri-inĩ wake harĩ mũingĩ, Monica nĩanyitire itemi

kwambĩrĩria thukuru wa Kĩang’ondu Primary e memba wa board.

Mweri 18/8/2002, Monica na mwendwa wake nĩmerũhirie mĩhĩtwa ya kĩhiko kĩao na magĩkũngũĩra mĩaka mĩrongo ĩtano (Golden Jubilee) igongona-inĩ rĩrĩa rĩatongoretio ni Rev Fr James Ndumiah.

Monica na mwedwa wake nĩmarathimĩtwo na ciana ikũmi na nĩcio

Mwendwo ni-irĩ Magdalene Wangarĩ Gĩtaũ, Ann Wanjirũ Kuria, Paul Kĩmarũ, Charles Ngumĩ, Symon Njuirĩ, Samuel Gĩchanga, Rachael Wairimũ Musee, Catherine Mũthoni, Stephen Thũmĩ na Rose Wambũi. Monica nĩendete gũkorwo na mahinda mega na ciana ciake, mũthuri we, arata ake, tũcũcũ na tũcũkũrũ.

Monica nĩarĩ na ũgima mwega wa mwĩrĩ nginya mĩaka ya 1980s rĩrĩa amenyekire ari na mũrimũ wa gũturwo nĩ marũngo (arthritis), cukari na mũrimũ wa gũteng’era thakame. Nĩarigitirwo mĩrimũ ĩyo thibitarĩ-inĩ ngũrani. Mwaka-inĩ wa 2003 nĩanyitirwo nĩ stroke no nĩarigitirwo na akĩhona. Mwaka-inĩ wa 2011 nĩehĩirwo nĩ mũrimũ wa cukari nginya akĩrengwo kũgũrũ thibitarĩ-inĩ ya Gĩkũyũ mwaka-inĩ wa 2012.

Gatagata-inĩ ka June 2018 nĩagiire na karonda kũgũrũ na agĩkoma thibitarĩ ya Mũkũrwe-ini na thutha Avenue Nursing Home, Kĩahũngũ. Kũrĩ mweri 11/07/2018 nĩehĩirwo nĩ mwĩrĩ na agĩthamĩrio thibitarĩ ya Nazareth, Limuru, Kiambu County. Monica nĩaheirwo thakaramendi ya arwaru nĩ gacũcũ gake, Rev Fr John Wamũtu kũrĩ kiumia 15/7/ 2018. Ciugo cĩa matukũ make ma mũico cĩrarĩ

andũ maikaranie na thayũ.

Monica ahurũkire Jumatatu mweri 16/7/2018 thaa mũgwanja na nuthu cia mĩaraho mari na ciana ciake, Ann Wanjiru, Patrick Kuria na Symon Njuĩrĩ. Atiga arĩu atano , aarĩ ana, tũcũcũ 24 na tucukuru 6.

Tukĩhurũkia Monica, tũracokia ngatho na gũkũngũĩra ũtũũro wake, wega wake, wendo, wĩrutĩri, ũtugi na marĩa mothe arahotithĩtio kũhingĩria Ngai, mũingĩ na andũ aake. Amwe anyu no mũririkane utana wake rĩria ararĩ wĩra-inĩ wake wa duka, Kĩang’ondu, na tondũ gũtirĩ mwana o na ũmwe ũngĩathire duka-inĩ yake aage kuuma na thwiti kana biscuit, na nĩkio aingĩ maramũĩ ta Cũcũ wa Theremende.

 

Mwathani ũhe Monica Nyakairũ kĩhurũko gĩtathiraga

Na ũtheri wa tene na tene

Monica arohurũka ũhoro

Nĩgũtuike guo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tribute to our dear mother

Mum, you were great to us all. Sweet memories of you in our lives and the wisdom you imparted to us are all that we will cherish.

Life will, undoubtedly, not be the same without your physical presence, without your radiance, recollections, life tips, laughter and mirth, motherly warmth and generosity, and insistence on THAYŨ! THAYŨ! among us.

There are numerous things we may have still wanted to continue sharing with you, Mum, if only we could have one more moment! However, when God plucks his best flower from our midst, we painfully but humbly accept.

We comfort ourselves with the knowledge that you are in a better place, watching over us and quietly assuring and encouraging that all is well.

And that is why we are not mourning you, but celebrating your life, which was well lived.

• Your cherished children

 

 

 

 

 

Tribute to mum and a friend

We all are mortal. One day we all will depart from this world. It is, however, not easy to accept that mum you are gone, never to return.

Mum, we cannot get the right words to express our appreciation and gratefulness for your unconditional love, unfaltering care, compassion and desire to see all of us happy in life. You have been our bedrock and have left an immense void in our lives.

Although you are no longer with us, your will always linger in our lives. We will honour your fond memory and celebrate the 88 years that God gave you to be in this world.

You were a loving mum and will be dearly missed by us all. You taught us the value of creativity, resilience and determination in all that we set out to do, and most importantly, be our brothers and sisters keepers. You delighted in our life’s achievements and were always there for us in happiness and in sadness, in need or abundance.

Mum, we are privileged to call you mum and a friend. We have no doubt whatsoever that you will forever watch over us with a smile.

 

 

 

 

Tribute to Mother in-law

We came from varied places, knocked on your door, and connected at first sight. You graciously and happily welcomed us into your home.

We all are grateful that you accepted us in your family.

Your counsel will always be our guide and a source of inspiration for your grandchildren and great grandchildren.

You will always be in our minds, mum.

We shower you with all possible love and appreciation, mum

 

 

 

 

 

Tribute to my darling granny

A woman of extreme strength, courage and love who was beautiful, soft and now peaceful and free as a dove.

Someone on who our admiration was built around,

For her womanhood, wife, friend and grandmother since she was brought into this ground.

My darling grandma, we will forever hold in our hearts, in which we have truly learned the most from,

Your strength as a wonderful mother to our mothers and fathers,

And which we hope to gain in raising your great grandsons and great granddaughters.

My darling grandma, we will always respect all you went through in your hardships and distinguished ways,

Your ability to hold yourself with such dignity and pride in all your days,

Your beauty shines in us all who were lucky to be part of your devoted family,

We will carry you in our eyes, minds, and hearts, in which we have a remedy,

 

My darling grandma, that is to hold you close by all you have taught us to do,

And to remember the beautiful women we owe our lives to,

For giving us life to blessing us with her strong inner spirit of courage,

Her unconditional love and her sensual laughter,

For being such a person in who will always and have always held deep in our hearts now and here after.

 

My darling grandma, you are taking a little part of us with you as you follow your angels, who will guide you to your precious place,

May you look down on us with pride on what you brought into this world with your guidance in which you are now truly our angel of grace.

 

My darling grandma, as you enter your new heavenly home, may you rest in peace, for which you truly deserve.

For you will be truly missed and remembered for your love and honor in which we will preserve.

We love you always and forever and may God be with you.