Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Saturday led a delegation of leaders to condole with the family of the late politician J.M. Kariuki following the death of his widow, Terry Wanjiru Kariuki.
The leaders joined relatives and friends at the Kariuki family home in Kilimani, Nairobi, where they offered their condolences and celebrated the life of a woman who held her family together through decades of triumph and tragedy.
In a heartfelt message shared on X, Gachagua described Terry as a committed matriarch who kept alive the values and spirit of her late husband, J.M. Kariuki, the outspoken legislator and champion of social justice assassinated in 1975.
“We hail Terry, a committed matriarch, for her strength in holding the family of JM. My deepest sympathies to the family during this difficult time,” Gachagua stated.
He further noted that the late J.M. Kariuki’s philosophy of justice and equality remains alive “amidst the hegemony and heartlessness,” urging Kenyans to remember the sacrifices of those who stood for truth.
Kalonzo Musyoka, who also signed the condolence book, joined other dignitaries including former CS Sicily Kariuki, former MP Maina Kamanda, and several Mt. Kenya leaders in comforting the bereaved family.
The Kariuki family, in their tribute, described Terry as “a light in her own right,” praising her courage, compassion, and faith that sustained both her family and community.
Terry Wanjiru Kariuki passed away on October 30, 2025, while receiving treatment at a Nairobi hospital. A memorial service was held at her home on Friday, and she will be laid to rest on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the family farm in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
Her passing marks the end of an era for a family deeply woven into Kenya’s history of justice and reform.
