by Staff, Ajabu Africa News, posted September 7, 2010
SAN ANTONIO , TX , SEPTEMBER 7_ A Young Kenyan student, who is a grandson of the late Dickson Kihika Kimani, a mercurial Kenyan politician and businessman from the Rift Valley Province, was found dead in an apartment in San Antonio, Texas on Friday September 3rd, 2010, from what friends and family described as a gunshot wound.
The late Eric Kihika Njunuri, 19, was a student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and was the youngest son of Mr. Sam Njunuri and Rosemary Kihika Njunuri of Houston, Texas.
According to family and friends, the late Njunuri had gone to visit friends last week in San Antonio, Texas.
However, on Friday, the friends that Njunuri had been visiting notified the police when they found him dead in a room they had given him to spend the night.
“He died of a gunshot wound in San Antonio, Texas at age 19, on Friday September 3, 2010”, said an email sent to AjabuAfrica.com .
The late Eric Kihika Njunuri
"It was not clear the circumstances that led to the death of the young Kenyan but initial reports from the police are that Njunuri may have committed suicide”, said Amos Mwangi, a family friend during a telephone interview with AjabuAfrica.com.
"However, investigations into the death are continuing", added Mwangi.
Njunuri's grandfather, Kihika Kimani, played an importnt role in the Kenyan politics before he passed away in 2004, serving as a member of parliament for three constituencies in the Rift Valley Province, Nakuru North (1974-1979), Laikipia West (1992-1997) and Molo (1997-2002).
He was also a a powerful leader of the 30,000 member Ngwataniro-Mutukanio Company, that had purchased thousands of acres in the expansive Rift Valley from fleeing settlers in the immediate post- colonial era.
Due to the unexpected death, and in keeping with the African tradition, friends and relatives have organized a memorial/prayer/fundraising (Harambee) at 7pm, Saturday September 11, 2010 at Swiss Royale, 9651 Bissonet St, Houston TX 77099 to offset the burial expenses.
However, prayer meetings are taking place daily at his parent’s home, at 15430 Cabildo Dr. Houston, TX 77083.
A bank account has been established for fund raising purposes for those who may want to donate towards the funeral expenses.
Account Information:
Bank Name: Chase Bank Account Name: Sam Njunuri Routing Number: 1119937764 Account Number: 440-111-7927
For more information, contact:
Amos Mwangi (281) 236-7986 Peter Kwatenge (832) 661-9216
Joe Mbugua (281) 814-6724 Francis Mathenge (832) 754-4668
Doug Gichena (832) 266-7725 Protus Kokro (713) 505-5428
Lucy Simiyu (713) 829-7855 Miriam Macharia (832) 887-6076
Lilian Kwatenge (713) 248-6364 Kenneth Karanja (713) 319-8845
Jeremy Akatsa (281) 687-1332 Charity Maina (832) 656-6920
Irene Kariithi (832) 880-0074 Cecilia Wanjiru (510) 396-7175
Ruth Githumbi (832) 283-7928 Juliet Karu (832) 964-4334
