November 26, 2024

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See the house that former CAS Zack Kinuthia’s Gifted his Single Mother

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Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) for Education Zack Kinuthia was brought up in poverty in Murang’a but unlike many children when success came his way he prioritised his mother who struggled for them.

His mother Lucy Mugure is a single mother. She toiled in quarries and people’s shambas to bring up and educate Kinuthia and his siblings.

Kinuthia build her a decent house from money he made during the 2017 campaigns. He was in front-line drumming support for re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kinuthia hails from Kigumo constituency in Murang’a County. The former chairman of Student Organisation of Nairobi University honoured promise to his mum of getting her a decent place to live in for educating him despite challenges she endured.

Kinuthia with President Kenyatta.

He moved his mother from a shopping centre where she lived and brought up Kinuthia in a rented house to the newly built home which is admired by neighbours in their sleepy Gatitu village. He bought the piece of land and build the home.

A perimeter wall, strong gate and electricity gives it a not-so common feature in homes in the countryside.

When Uhuru appointed Kinuthia to deputise Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha, he became the talk of Murang’a and now youths are being advised to emulate him in looking after their parents when they make it in life.

A thankful Mugure says her son was sent home over school fees several times.

“He was brought up in poverty. During Kanu reign my son spent lot of time at home because of school fees” Mugure says.

“I fetched water for people, a 20-litre jerrican was paid Sh10. I would fetch about 60 in a day. I would work as a casual labourer at Kigumo Police station. Worked in quarries getting paid Sh80 daily. Some people told me to steal bananas and vegetables from other people’s farms to feed my kids but I never dared such a thing. Sometimes neighbours gave me unga” Mugure narrates.

Kinuthia’s mother Lucy Mugure.

After his KCPE he got slot at Kigumo Bendera High School but was forced to repeat standard eight because of fees issues.

“A teacher slapped him for repeating. I wanted to meet that teacher face to face but headteacher intervened. I told them I would take Kinuthia to Saitoti (Then Education Minister) so the government can take him if having no money for school fees was such an issue” she says.

Year later he passed well but his admittance letter to join Gaichanjiru High School was stolen. They got it after Mugure protested at the education office and threatened to take the matter to higher offices.

The home is admired by neighbours.

Similar fate followed after he got grades to join university. He had to travel to Nairobi to Ministry of Education to get his university of Nairobi admittance letter.

From a young age, Kinuthia was a faithful at PEFA and this according to his mother has molded him into a responsible man.