Collapsed: George Thuo.
FORMER Juja MP George Thuo, who was expected to be a key witness for President Uhuru Kenyatta at the ICC, died on Sunday. The ICC Chief Prosecutor had claimed that Thuo had attended a meeting at Blue Post Hotel in Thika where revenge attacks were allegedly planned for Naivasha and Nakuru.
Thuo was expected to testify that any violence was spontaneous and Uhuru did not have anything to do with theNaivasha and Nakuru killings.
The former MP had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. On October 5, 2011 at the ICC pretrial chamber, lawyer Moses Anyah, representing victims, concurred with the prosecution that it was “manifestly clear” that the violence was organised and wondered why all pangas at a Naivasha supermarket were sold out on the eve of the violence.
“The police asked people to go to their houses and assured them that they will be protected. But when the violence started, they were nowhere to be found. That to me shows a degree of planning,” Anyah said. Yesterday, Paul Wainaina, the proprietor of Pokies Bar in Thika town, recalled Thuo’s last moments.
“Thuo called me at around 7pm asking me where I was. I told him I was at my bar. He said he was in Nairobi on the way to Thika and wanted to hang out with me and watch Formula One racing at my bar as we talk,” said Wainaina. Thuo arrived around 8pm with a friend and they sat at the bar.
He said the former MP looked in good health and did not complain of any illness. “He ordered Tusker Malt beer but after 15 minutes, he complained that he needed to remove his vest as he was feeling hot,” said Wainaina.
Wainaina advised him to go into the office within and remove his vest which he did before returning to join them. Between 8.30 and 9pm Thuo collapsed, hitting his head on a table as he fell down.
Wainaina rushed him to Thika Nursing Home and called his wife. Thuo was transferred to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi where he was pronounced dead on arrival. CID director Ndegwa Muhoro said Thuo was confirmed dead at around 10pm upon arrival at the Aga Khan.
“We do not want to speculate over his death as investigations into the matter have been launched,” said Muhoro. Thuo was elected MP for Juja in 2007 with PNU but lost the seat in April 2010 after a successful petition over election irregularities.
Thuo was one of the original owners of City Hoppa public service vehicles. Before that, he worked as managing director of the Kenya Bus Service.
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