Robert Gituhu is the name of the man who went viral for setting himself ablaze in Mwembe Tayari, Mombasa, on August 17. He later succumbed to injuries on the same day and the nation is still coming to terms with the disturbing incident.
Left: Rose Mineh. Right: Robert Gituhu. Photo: Courtesy
Rose Mineh, Robert’s mother, and several family members have come forward to shed light on his life and the events that led to his death. According to Rose, Robert left home on August 12, unannounced. His phone went unanswered and every effort made in a bid to reach him bore no fruit.
As a result, the family decided to launch an online campaign with the hope of tracing his whereabouts. As per Jackson Nkoidila, the family’s spokesperson, they got worried and decided to put out a missing person poster.
“When he never came back home, that is when we decided to put up the poster, thinking something bad had happened to him.”
Jackson Nkoidila
Missing person poster of Robert Gituhu. Source| Instagram
Apparently, Robert Gituhu was a mentally disturbed person and the family was shocked to learn that their son had traveled all the way to Mombasa. It still remains unknown to them and to netizens how he got to Mwembe Tayari.
Despite his mental issues and frustrations, Rose Mineh recounted that his son was a very bright student. Robert Gituhu attained 400 marks in his K.C.P.E examinations and was subsequently admitted to Kijabe High School.
At Kijabe, he was a prefect and later got promoted to Deputy School Captain. It did not come as a surprise to the family when their beacon of hope was elected as School Captain. Young Gituhu achieved a grade of A- in his K.C.S.E examinations, landing him a chance to join University of Eldoret.
“He was a very reserved person, responsible, obedient, hardworking, humble, and he always respected everyone as he grew up… My son believed that he was a leader, he hoped that once he graduated, he could have secured a job, worked for some years before joining politics.”
Rose Mineh, Robert Gituhu’s mother
Robert Gituhu successfully completed his tertiary-level education regardless of the prolonged strikes that plagued the institution at the time. Shortly after his demise, a friend who was also his former classmate recalled Gituhu’s frustration over the seven years he had spent at school instead of the usual four.
Nonetheless, Robert Gituhu finally graduated from University of Eldoret with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Production Engineering. According to his mother, Robert had political aspirations and she was sure that they stemmed from his role as a student leader.
“At times he could even ask me, ‘How will you feel when you wake up one day and realise I am a Member of Parliament? Or a Governor?’ To me, I knew that since he was a student leader, he felt like he could still walk on the same path.”
Sadly, his dreams and life were cut short. However, this writer together with other netizens that witnessed the last moments of Robert Gituhu stand in prayers with Robert’s family.
Hopefully, his story will shed light on other Kenyans battling mental issues and financial frustrations. Stay close to your loved ones and always keep hope alive.
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