Uhuru's childhood driver passes on with unfulfilled dreams

Source/Baringo news

Mzee Clement Kurui from Kituro Village in Baringo Central who was once President Uhuru Kenyatta's childhood driver has passed on without having his dreams of meeting the head of state fulfilled.

The 83 year old who served as the driver of the first president of the republic of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, had been complaining of stomach pains for quiet sometime and on Wednesday last week,  he was pronounced dead after being admitted at Baringo Referral Hospital.

Mzee Kurui famously known as Arap King,  who was blessed with seven children and several grandchildren had hopes of meeting the Kenyatta's family after retiring from service in the year 1986.

According to his younger brother Julius Kurui he had desired to be invited to statehouse to meet with his long time friend Uhuru.

He narrates one incident when Arap King was taking Uhuru to school and he questioned him why he was not having the badge of a Sergeant and he had to tell him that the powers of promotion lied in the hands of his father, Kenyatta.

However,  when he went back in the evening to bring him back home from school,   Uhuru asked his father the same question and surprisingly,  Arap King was promoted the next day.

He was also once the driver of the late minister of foreign affairs Robert Ouko and British judges as they traversed across East Africa.

Due to his hardwork and honest, he got lucky to be selected as one of the best drivers after independence to become President Kenyatta's driver.

"He loved farming which made him to become one of the leading farmers in the county. Even at his old age,  he used to be found in the farm doing one thing or the other" he said.

Michael Kipchumba,  his grandson now appeals to Uhuru to at least assist them give their grandfather a befitting send off saying that they are not even in a position to raise the over 300,000 which is needed for funeral arrangements.

Arap King who was a renowned village elder and traditional master of ceremony will be laid to rest on 5th June 2019.

By Festus Kipchumba/Baringo News