BROCKTON, Mass. APRIL 28, 2008_ Friends of the young Kenyan man, Mr. David Chege Mathe, found dead in his apartment in Brockton, Massachusetts, USA, are pleading to people of goodwill to come forward and raise funds to help with funeral expenses.

Mr. David Chege Mathe was found dead in his apartment after neighbors complained of a foul smell coming from Mathe’s apartment. “Upon forceful entry into the house, police discovered the decomposing body of Mr. Mathe,” said Mr. Joseph Kinyua, Mathe’s roommate from 2001 to 2006.

At the time of his death, Mr. Mathe was living alone in his one bedroom apartment in Brockton. According to the funeral organizing committee, Mr. Mathe had served as a Sergeant with the US National Guard in Iraq in 2005, after which he resumed normal civilian life.

It is believed the body was found about three weeks after Mathe died. The cause of his death remains a mystery and police investigations are in progress. Since Mathe does not have immediate family members in the USA, it is difficult to get official reports that are normally made available to the next of kin.

“Mathe was very respectful and never wanted to offend anybody,” observed Mr. Kinyua, the former roommate. During one of the daily prayer sessions at Mr. Kinyua’s house, mourners learnt that Mr. Mathe was a very quiet, reserved and humble man.

Mr. Kinyua said the late Mathe was not very well known in the Kenyan community. “This guy lived with me like a brother for many years. We shared everything. I cannot abandon him now when he needs me most,” added Mr. Kinyua.  “All of us here do not even know his parents because we just met here and became room mates. We feel obliged to do everything possible to help his parents with funeral arrangements. It’s the least we can do”, he said.

The Organizing Committee chairman, Mr Amos Wang’ombe, pleaded with all people of goodwill and especially Kenyans from all over USA to show up in large numbers on Sunday May 4th for the fund raising event. “Assume this was your brother. Even if he was not well known let us all come together as a community and help out a family in dire need,” begged Mr. Wangombe.

The Committee reported getting help from Plymouth County Congressman, Mr. Steve Lynch, with travel arrangements for Mathe’s parents who live in Kenya. They are expected to act as the next of kin when they arrive in the US and will help push the funeral process forward.

Mr. Chege leaves behind his two loving parents, Mr. Dominic Mathe Chege and Mrs. Ruth Wanjiku Mathe. His two brothers are Dennis Gatimu Mathe and Alfred Kimata Mathe, all of Nakuru, Kenya.

Prayers and fund raising will be held at St. Luke’s International Church in Abington near Brockton, Massachusetts, today Sunday May 4th, at 3 p.m. click here for details

A bank account has been set up to help in the fund raising effort. Please make a donation. The details are as follows.
BANK OF AMERICA:
IN TRUST FOR DAVID MATHE
ACCOUNT #:  004619719131
ROUTING #:  011000138

Story by Harrison Maina
AjabuAfrica.com