Major General Gerald Kinyua Muchemi

We Remember You

26th August 1953 – 12th March 2007

Gerry, Thirteen years ago, on a day that looked like any other, you breathed your last breath on this earth. This ushered you into eternal life but I still hold on to our good memories. The best time we spent together, the Sunday walks, the love you showed me and the kind words you whispered into my ears are forever engraved in my heart. Not forgetting your considerate activities around our family. You bought me clothes and handbags whenever you travelled out of the country. You loved to buy me expensive jewelry which had little meaning to me then but today I treasure them as a symbol of love, on my jewelry table. As a soldier, duty demanded that you be out of home for long periods. This taught me independence and resilience. But I also longed for the gifts you would come back home with. For example, the red Peugeot 405 you gifted me after your assignment in Yugoslavia .The memory lives on. I vividly remember the last words you uttered during your final week.This is what you said “take care of yourself, my children and the business”. Through God’s grace I have managed to carry myself with the dignity that you would have loved. Your children have turned out to be great, indeed we now have Robert as our son in-law and a beautiful granddaughter called Isabella. Who is like my God? The businesses have grown to a level that I would have never imagined. Thank you for believing in me when you were still with us. Thank you for teaching our children to respect and honor me. They uphold the same to date. To date I vividly remember your very last word which were “when you get home pray”. Not only did I pray back then, but also, I can tell you its prayers that have continuously kept me through this journey. Being a single mother and perceived as such, how else would I have made it through the daily challenges around work, family, friends and enemies? However, I can testify that God has been faithful, He has made ways where there seemed to be none.

We have overcome all prophesies of doom and for this, I say thank you for setting a good foundation for me and our children. I also say thank you to our children, for they have been awesome. To all the supportive family members and friends, I would like to say thank you. The greatest thank you goes to God who wiped my tears then and continues to do so in new moments of tears today. I can’t wait to see what He holds for me and your children, I will definitely keep a record and update you. By the way, they now call me “DV! Your labor for the business was not in vain. Gerry, I loved you then and I still do. May Gods name be glorified Yours, Esther Muchemi.

Dad, I still remember every night you came home and found me awake watching tv, you asked whether Ciru had eaten. Your way of asking whether everybody was alright, Dad, Ciro has eaten. Everybody is alright. Thirteen years on and the example you set still serves as a guiding light. I miss you. We miss you. Sam.

Hey Dad, 13 years later. Some days it feels like it was yesterday that I got that phone call. Some days the anvil on my chest sits so heavy I am unable to breathe. Other days, most days, a lot reminds me of you. Anything military reminds me of you! Sam’s character and demeanor, his protective nature, I see so much of you in him. Mum’s Independence and boldness reminds me so much of you. When someone tells me “I was very good friends with General” I smile and eagerly wait to hear the story of how you met, or how you impacted their lives or what sort of man you were in their eyes. So many times, I say something and I hear you in my words. Slowly but surely, more often than not, when I speak of you I smile, I even manage to laugh, the tears still come but amid smiles and good memories. Forever Missed, Forever Loved. Forever, Daddy’s Girl