A woman from Nyandarua County, Hannah Nyambura Ndugire, who in August 2021 chained herself to the gates of Nyandarua County headquarters is dead.
Nyandarua Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha made the announcement on Saturday, February 18, sending his condolences to the family.
He noted that he had a chance to talk with Ndugire alias Cucu, a few days before her demise, he visited her and discussed ways of resolving her dispute with the County Government that arose during the past regime.
“Regrettably, she did not live to see the successful resolution of this issue which we had reached a mutual understanding on the way forward,” Badilisha stated.
The county boss described the woman her as a household name in the local construction industry.
“The death of Ndugire, an industrious lady who successfully operated in a sector heavily dominated by men, is a great loss not just to Nyandarua but to the entire country and proponents of gendered development.
For in her work and success, she broke the gender ceiling and demonstrated the place of women in our society whenever given a chance,” he noted.
Ndugire had been battling depression since the previous County Government failed to pay her Ksh78 million for work done.
“Her health condition started deteriorating during the time she was fighting for the payments leading to several protests from the residents,” her son Raphael Ndugire explained.
He noted that his late mother was heavily indebted since she had taken loans to do the jobs. The situation worsened when auctioneers came after her property and had to sell almost every family asset, she was depressed yet she had successfully implemented the project.
He further noted that the debts included the salaries of her employees most of them mothers and youths from Huruma slums in Ol Kalou town.
“All these left my mother a very depressed woman, she was since in and out of the hospital but without proper medical care for lack of money,” he noted.
The governor promised to fulfill his promise to the late lady and honor her wish even after her death.
“It is my undertaking, and that of the County Government of Nyandarua, that the resolution arrived between the parties will be honored upon fulfillment of the agreed process.
It is also my assurance, like I said several months ago after assuming office, that we will make Nyandarua County a conducive place for people to trade and earn the sweat of their brow without unnecessary red tape and bottlenecks.
May the Almighty God grant the family of Cucu peace, comfort and fortitude to bear the loss, and may her soul find eternal rest,” he uttered.
She had been contracted by the County Government to carry out cabro-paving works in Ol Kalou town. The former Governor Francis Kimemia, who was one of the governors who failed to show up during the swearing in fete of their successors, and his administration denied the contractor payment.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE