A family from Kirimunge village Kirinyaga Central is mourning their kin, a military officer who was among 10 who perished in a chopper crash on Thursday, April 18.

The family of Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Muriithi say they are devastated with the death of their son and had hopped that he would survive the accident, until President William Ruto announced the list of the fallen soldiers on live TV.

His father Josephat Muriithi said the soldier’s death is a big blow to the family. Senior Sergeant Kinyua, the father says, was the bread winner and pillar of the family.

The deceased’s brother, Joseph Muthii, says he spent the better part of Monday, April 15 with him, assessing the progress of a poultry farming project.

The brother revealed that Sergeant Kinyua had visited to pick his daughter who had come to visit the grandparents.

Planned a family get-together

Muthii also added that on the fateful Thursday, April 19 morning, he had talked to his brother, planning for a family get-together that was  supposed to be held this Saturday, April 20.

According to Muthii, their mother was against him (Kinyua) joining the military after clearing his four years education in 2002 at Baricho High school.

Sergeant Kinyua scored an impressive A (minus) in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

“My brother had tried severally to join the military since that’s where his passion was, but our mother was against it. He tried as from 2002 and subsequent years but in 2007 when mum said he was free to try his luck, he was among those that were selected without any struggle,” Muthii added.

The father, however, did not oppose his son joining the military, and supported his efforts of joining the KDF fully.