PAMELA MBOYA' DEATH A SETBACK TO UNRAVELLING MBOYA'S MURDER 40 YEARS AGO

THE STANDARD
NAIROBI, KENYA

By Kepher Otieno and John Oywa

The death of Pamela Mboya could be a setback to efforts to unravel the murder of her husband.

Relatives and friends of former Planning Minister Thomas Joseph Mboya yesterday said Pamela was planning to push for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission so that Kenyans could finally get to know why Mboya was murdered in cold blood in July 1969.

Mrs Mboya, 70, died at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she was undergoing treatment on Monday.

Mr Otieno Nundu, a former personal assistant to the late Mboya and who was with him minutes before his assassination, said Mrs Mboya had planned to appear before the truth commission about her husband’s death.

"She was to lead Mboya’s friends and relatives to the commission. Now we are back to zero," said Mr Nundu.

He added: "It is a big shock. With her death, many secrets about Tom may never be known."

Annan Team

In February last year, Pamela wrote to the Kofi Annan mediation team and expressed her willingness to testify regarding the unresolved murder of her husband 40 years ago.

Mboya was shot in broad daylight on July 5, 1969 on Nairobi’s Government Road (Now Moi Avenue).

Yesterday, both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga sent messages of condolence her family.

Immigration Ministers Otieno Kajwang’ and his Public Service colleague Dalmas Otieno also mourned Mrs Mboya.

Raila said Pamela’s death has closed a major chapter in Kenya’s history.

"Pamela served Kenya in various capacities in her long career in public service. She was one of the founder mothers of this nation and we will miss her," Raila said.

Cherished Role

He added: "We will cherish the role her husband played in Kenya and the dignity with which she picked up the pieces of her life when Mboya was assassinated."

Mrs Mboya’s family left for South Africa yesterday. She lived in Lambwe in Suba District.