Former Citizen TV employee now Inooro TV presenter Mike Njenga is mourning the sudden death of Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru who passed away yesterday in a tragic accident at Kabati, Murang'a county. Dr. Gakuru was on his way to Inooro TV for a live interview which was scheduled for 9 am when he met his untimely death.

He was with his personal assistant, Albert Kagiru, driver Samuel Kinyanjui and bodyguard, Ahmed Abdi.

Mike Njenga and his co-host Nderitu Waihura were eagerly waiting to conduct the interview only to learn about the tragic accident on social media. Njenga has called upon Kenyans to resist posting the photos and let the bereaved family mourn in peace.

He has recounted his last conversations with the late governor and here is what he had to say.

"We had a chat with the late governor last evening. It was my co-anchor, Nderitu Waihura, who first called him and he accepted to come for an interview on our show Tuesday morning (November 7).

This morning (yesterday), he called us at around 6:40 am and told us he was on his way, without revealing where he had reached with his journey. We were expecting him on the show at 9 am. Usually, he is this kind of guy who arrives early, when called for an interview. He'd say: 'I want to relax, give ample time to the make-up artist and also read the newspapers.

We were to host him alongside Laikipia Governor and a lawyer called Ndegwa Njiru.

News about his death extremely shocked me, given I learnt about it on social media. It was very, very shocking. Today, it is when reality hit me that social media sometimes can be brutal. You can imagine I was supposed to host him, and I learn about his demise on social media. He was somebody I had talked to earlier when embarked on the Nairobi journey.

For the first time, I have known why people are told never to share pictures and stories of the dead on social media.

Imagine I am not the next of kin, but just a friend, and I was shocked to that extent. Now, how much more did the relatives feel? Today, I felt and knew how brutal social media is. News about the death of people should never be broken that way.

I am urging guys who are sharing pictures of the late governor in the car before he was rushed to Thika Level Five Hospital to exercise restraint. It is cruel, it is brutal.

We told legislators who came to the show today that we need some regulations to be introduced to govern the use of social media. It should not be used in the way it was used today.

We pray God gives his family strength to go through this. We are praying for peace that surpasses all the understanding to be upon the family, the relatives and the friends."

Nderitu Waihura was also shocked when he read news about the horror accident on social media.

"Yesterday (Monday, November 6), our conversation was brief - that we meet on Kimuri on Inooro TV Tuesday 9 am. We did not talk much.

I, actually, did not know whether he was going to drive from Nyeri, or he was in the city. When booking him for an interview, I usually inquire if he is available on a certain date, and he tells me yes or no. I first booked him for the show last weekend, confirmed his availability yesterday and early this morning.

When I read news about the accident involving the governor's car on a WhatsApp platform around 7:15am this morning, I immediately called him on phone, and he did not pick up. That is when it dawned on me that the reports were true. I usually don't call his personal assistant; I talk to the governor directly.

Gakuru is someone I knew way back when he was appointed as the CEO of the Vision 2030. He was a very close friend. I admired his level of education. At the time, he was also lecturing at the University of Nairobi.

I hosted him on Inooro FM occasionally. Given I hail from Nyeri County, we would hold conversations on how to move the county forward. One thing that I know is that he is a student of former President Mwai Kibaki. He meant well for Nyeri people.

He was knowledgeable; a good guy who knew what he wanted. That was the right person to be the governor of Nyeri. I don't think it is just an accident, but let us wait and see." 

May God comfort the late Dr Wahome Gakuru's family during this difficult times.